Sishuwa Sishuwa is critiquing President Hakainde Hichilema’s handling of the funeral and repatriation of former President Edgar Lungu. His main arguments and concerns include:

1. Lack of Transparency:

He accuses President Hichilema of trying to shift the public narrative without revealing what the South African Minister of International Relations actually said during their meeting. This, according to Sishuwa, is a form of selective disclosure.

2. Funeral as a Family Matter, Not a Diplomatic One:

Sishuwa emphasizes that decisions surrounding Lungu’s burial are primarily the family’s prerogative. He argues that the matter falls under personal and legal jurisdiction in South Africa, where the family has the final say — not political leaders or foreign governments.

3. South Africa’s Legal and Institutional Independence:

He points out that South Africa is a country governed by the rule of law and strong institutions. Therefore, its leaders respect legal procedures, which side with the deceased’s family in such matters. This, he says, limits what both South African and Zambian authorities can do.

4. Initial Praise, Followed by Disappointment:

Sishuwa notes that President Hichilema was briefly praised — including by himself — for showing leadership. However, he expresses disappointment that Hichilema allegedly deviated from earlier agreements and commitments soon after.

5. Failure of Leadership:

He concludes that Lungu being buried in South Africa — a “foreign country” — is a result of what he calls Hichilema’s “tragic failure of leadership.”