Chishala Chilufya Alleges Gov’t Hypocrisy in Handling of Late Edith Nawakwi’s Final Days
Political and social analyst Chishala Chilufya has strongly criticized the Zambian government, accusing it of hypocrisy and inhumane treatment in the final days of the late Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President, Edith Nawakwi.
In a passionate statement issued following the arrival of Nawakwi’s remains, Chilufya lamented the presence of government officials and uniformed personnel at the airport, calling it a “display of fake love” that contradicted how she was treated while alive. “You don’t need to pull a trigger to kill someone—denying them timely medical treatment is equally lethal,” he said.
Chilufya claimed that Nawakwi was denied access to medical care when she was detained at Chelstone Police Station, even as she was scheduled to travel abroad for urgent treatment. “The government refused to allow her doctors to attend to her, despite her being on medication,” he alleged.
He further questioned the government’s decision to evacuate her for treatment only days before her death, suggesting it was a calculated move rather than a humanitarian effort. “She was evacuated when it was too late, after her health had severely deteriorated,” he added.
The analyst expressed doubts that members of the UPND-led government would find the moral courage to attend Nawakwi’s funeral, stating that their past silence and actions disqualified them from paying tribute to her. “They have no ethical compass or moral right to speak on her legacy,” Chilufya said.
Using a metaphor from a Nigerian film, he compared the government’s posthumous honor to burying a poor man like royalty while doing nothing during his life. He called for national introspection, asking the country to seek divine forgiveness for what he described as “satanic and unchristian” behavior.
The late Edith Nawakwi, a veteran politician and former minister, died recently after a prolonged illness. The circumstances surrounding her treatment and final days have sparked heated debate across Zambia’s political and civic spaces.
