A Brother, A Leader, A Lesson

 Bishop Mwamba’s Tribute to Lungu

Lusaka, Zambia24, Thursday, June 5, 2025 – United National Independence Party (UNIP) President Bishop Trevor Mwamba has paid tribute to the late Sixth Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, describing him as a man of the people, a personal friend, and a national figure whose life and leadership offer Zambia both memory and lesson.

In a statement delivered Thursday, Bishop Mwamba extended condolences to the Lungu family, the Patriotic Front, and the entire nation, while encouraging citizens to reflect not only on the man Lungu was, but on the legacy he leaves behind.

“I, Bishop Trevor Mwamba, extend my sincere sympathies to the Lungu family, the Patriotic Front, and the Zambian people on the passing of His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu,” he said. 

“As President of UNIP, I also convey our party’s deep condolences at this moment of national loss.”

Recalling Lungu as his former classmate, Mwamba spoke warmly of the former president’s personal qualities—his humility, zest for life, and commitment to service—but insisted that national remembrance must go beyond sentimentality.

“President Lungu tried his best to serve this country. He was down-to-earth and approachable,” he said. 

“Yet our duty as a nation is not only to mourn, but to learn. Leadership should be examined not merely by tenure, but by truth—by what was done, and what was neglected.”

Lungu, who served from 2015 to 2021, presided over a turbulent period in Zambia’s history. Though credited with ambitious infrastructure development, his presidency was also marred by accusations of authoritarianism, economic mismanagement, and corruption—realities Bishop Mwamba says must not be ignored.

“To honour him properly, we must assess his legacy honestly,” he added. 

“This is how we build a better future—by embracing the lessons of our past.”

Quoting Psalm 34:18—“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”—Mwamba offered spiritual comfort to Lungu’s family and urged them to take solace in the promise of eternal life through Christ.

“To our mourning country, I also share the words of Matthew 5:4: ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ But let that comfort move us toward courage—toward a Zambia led by values, not vanity.”

As Zambia comes to terms with the death of its Sixth Republican President, Bishop Mwamba’s message stands as both a heartfelt farewell and a call to conscience—a reminder that from every leader, the nation must draw not only memory, but meaning.