Ex-president’s daughter who was not buried lost her MP

Zambia’s parliament has declared the seat of late former President Edgar Lungu’s daughter vacant, due to her continued absence in the wake of his death.

Until her ouster, Tsila Lungu was the Member of Parliament for Chawama Constituency in the capital Lusaka, representing the opposition Patriotic Front.

In a message to her voters, she hinted that she may challenge the decision: “Where there’s a will there’s a way”.

Her father died in June at the age of 68 in South Africa, where he was undergoing medical treatment. This led to a bitter legal dispute with his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, who wanted the body returned for a state funeral against the family’s wishes.

Ms Lungu is appearing in court in South Africa challenging an earlier ruling in favor of Hichilema’s government in August.

The government successfully argued in a Pretoria court that Hichilema should be able to attend the funeral as head of state. Yet the Lungu family says the deceased had given instructions that the president “should not be anywhere near” his body.

The former president’s remains are still in South Africa as the turmoil continues.

First came demands from the ruling United Party for National Development that she lose her parliamentary seat. Brian Kambita MP questioned the Speaker in July whether Ms Lungu was still eligible to hold office due to her long absence.

Speaker Nellie Mutti initially granted Ms Lungu 14 days of compassionate leave to mourn her father and return to Parliament in September.

However, she did not return within the given time.

Parliament wrote to Ms Lungu again, but instead of resuming her duties, she requested more time until the burial matter was resolved.

She asked to be allowed to attend Parliament sessions virtually.

The matter was referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges and Absences, which invited Ms Lungu to appear on 18 November. She did not come to that meeting either.

The committee later suggested that she be allowed to represent her Chawama constituency online till the completion of her father’s burial.

But Ms. Mutti rejected that proposal, saying virtual presence cannot replace physical representation.

In a Facebook statement to her constituents On Friday, Ms Lungu thanked the “wonderful team of councillors, community members and constituency staff who have coordinated and worked tirelessly for their service”.

Although Zambia holds a general election next August, elections for the seat are expected to be held within 90 days.

The decision to declare Ms Lungu’s seat vacant has been received with mixed feelings – some argue she should be given time to mourn her father, while others say her constituents have been deprived of representation.

Independent MP Binwel Mupundu has accused the government of hypocrisy, saying it was wrong to claim solidarity with the Lungu family.

“You dragged (them) to court and revoked the parliamentary seat of a daughter mourning her late father today. Hypocrite.”