President Hakainde Hichilema has declared a seven-day period of national mourning in Zambia to honour former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who passed away in South Africa on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The mourning period is set to commence on Sunday, June 8, and will conclude on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This declaration aims to acknowledge Mr. Lungu's contributions during his tenure as the nation’s sixth President.

Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, confirmed in a press briefing that the Government of the Republic of Zambia will accord Mr. Lungu a state funeral. This decision aligns with national protocol and recognizes his service. Mr. Kangwa stated that the government has been consulting with the Lungu family and relevant stakeholders to coordinate the funeral arrangements. The late President’s body is anticipated to arrive in Zambia on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, with the official funeral gathering to be held at Belvedere Lodge along Leopards Hill Road in Kabulonga, Lusaka.

During the period of national mourning, Mr. Kangwa announced that all entertainment activities should be postponed or cancelled as a mark of respect. Additionally, national flags will be flown at half-mast from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours daily. Further details regarding the state funeral and burial arrangements will be communicated to the public in due course.

In response to the national atmosphere, Leslie Chikuse, President of the Republican Progressive Party (RPP), issued a statement emphasizing the need for restraint and responsibility from all political leaders. The RPP stressed that during this solemn period of national grief, it is crucial for leaders to be patriotic in their public statements and actions, especially those made through international media platforms.

Mr. Chikuse specifically addressed Mr. Raphael Nakachinda, respectfully advising him to be mindful of his utterances and narratives following President Lungu’s natural passing. The RPP expressed concern that blaming the government for a natural death, as Mr. Nakachinda's utterances were perceived to do, could incite unnecessary suspicion, division, and public anxiety. The party highlighted that such actions are particularly detrimental at a time when unity and dignity should be the collective priority.

The RPP’s statement underscored that this is a moment for national reflection, not for sowing discord or propagating unfounded narratives that risk polarizing the country. "This is not the time for political point-scoring or inflammatory conjecture," the statement read. "It is a time to honor the legacy of the late president and allow the nation and his family to mourn in peace." The party warned that statements creating a hostile or misleading perception internationally could harm Zambia's national image and cohesion.

Concluding their appeal, the RPP urged Mr. Nakachinda and others to rise above partisan interests and contribute to a respectful and peaceful atmosphere. "Let us preserve the decorum befitting a former Head of State, and allow Zambians to bid farewell in a manner that upholds our values and our dignity as a nation," Mr. Chikuse stated.