Unburied ex-president’s daughter loses congressional seat

The Zambian parliament has declared the seat held by the daughter of late former president Edgar Lungu vacant after she remained absent following his death.

Before her dismissal, Taxila Lungu had been a member of parliament for Chawama constituency in the capital, Lusaka, representing the opposition Patriotic Front.

In a message to voters, she hinted she might try to challenge the decision, saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

In June, her father died at the age of 68 while seeking medical treatment in South Africa. That sparked a bitter legal dispute with his successor, President Hichilema, who wanted to have the body returned home for a state funeral, despite the family’s wishes.

Ms Lungu has been in court in South Africa challenging a ruling earlier in August that upheld the wishes of Hichilema’s government.

The government successfully argued in a Pretoria court that Hichilema must be able to attend the funeral because he was the head of state. However, Lungu’s family said the deceased had instructed the president “that he should not come near” his body.

As the standoff continues, the former president’s body remains in South Africa.

Action against her parliamentary seat first came from the ruling United National Development Party. MP Brian Kambita asked the Speaker in July whether Ms Lungu was still eligible to hold public office given her long absence.

Speaker Nelly Mutti initially gave Ms Lungu 14 days of compassionate leave to mourn her father, and to return to Parliament when it resumed in September.

However, she did not return within the stipulated time.

Parliament wrote to Ms Lungu again but instead of reinstating her duties, she asked for more time until her family’s funeral court case was resolved.

She also asked that virtual participation in parliamentary meetings be allowed.

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

The committee later recommended that she be allowed to represent the Chawama constituency online until her father’s funeral arrangements are completed.

But Ms Muti rejected the offer, saying virtual attendance could not replace in-person representation.

In Facebook’s statement to voters On Friday, Ms Lungu thanked her “fantastic team of councilors, community members and constituency staff who continue to coordinate and work tirelessly to serve you”.

Although Zambia will hold general elections next August, the election for this seat is expected to be held within 90 days.

The decision to declare Ms Lungu vacant has sparked mixed emotions – some believe she should be given time to mourn her father, while others say her constituents are being denied representation.

Independent MP Binwere Mpondu accused the government of hypocrisy, saying they were wrong to show solidarity with the Lungu family.

“You dragged (them) to court and today you canceled your parliamentary seat from a daughter who is mourning her late father. Hypocrites.”