Embassy Park Presidential Burial Site

The Presidential Burial Site at Embassy Park houses three mausoleums of former Zambian presidents: Levy Mwanawasa, Fredrick Chiluba, and Michael Sata. Each mausoleum has been designed to reflect the individual legacies and significant contributions of these presidents to the country's political and social landscape. Notably, the mausoleums for Rupiah Banda and Kenneth Kaunda have yet to be constructed.

{{See|Levy Mwanawasa#First term as president}}

File:Mwanawasa’s mausoleum 2.png

Levy Mwanawasa, the first Zambian president to die while in office, has a mausoleum shaped like a stool, with four boot-shaped pillars representing his commitment to fighting corruption and eight steps leading to the entrance symbolizing his two terms as president. He was buried on his 60th birthday, September 3, 2008.{{Cite web |last=Kaaya |first=Sadab Kitatta |title=Embassy park; hamlet where Zambia's presidents sleep in dignity |url=https://observer.ug/news/headlines/72895-embassy-park-hamlet-where-zambia-s-presidents-sleep-in-dignity |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=The Observer - Uganda |date=4 March 2022 |language=en-gb}} The Zambian government spent over K2 billion on the construction of the mausoleum and grave, with a total cost of K2,876,147,959.20.{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-06-04 |title=Zambia : K 2 billion was spent on late President Mwanawasa 's mausoleum and grave |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/06/04/2-billion-spent-late-president-mwanawasa-s-mausoleum-grave/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |language=en-GB}} The construction works were completed in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Presidential Burial Site National Monument {{!}} Lusaka, Zambia {{!}} Attractions |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/zambia/lusaka/attractions/presidential-burial-site-national-monument/a/poi-sig/1552404/355717 |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}}

{{See|Frederick Chiluba#Politics}}

Fredrick Chiluba was the first former head of state to be buried at the Presidential Memorial Park. The Zambian government spent over K3m on the construction of Chiluba's mausoleum, which is designed like a chapel with a cross on top, representing his declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, on the roof there is a small structure representing a thatch-roofed house, reflecting his commitment to empowering Zambians with housing.{{Cite web |last=Whitener |first=Olivia |title=A Christian covenant in concrete |url=https://tif.ssrc.org/2019/05/07/a-christian-covenant-in-concrete/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=SSRC The Immanent Frame |language=en-US}} The mausoleum has 10 pillars around it, representing the 10 years Chiluba served as president, and symbolizing his commitment to uniting the southern African region. The entrance to his mausoleum is shaped like a necktie, reflecting his exquisite dress style.

{{See|Michael Sata#Presidency|Death and state funeral of Michael Sata}}

File:Sata's mausoleum.png

Michael Sata, the fifth president of Zambia and second sitting president to be buried at the Presidential Memorial Park, is designed like King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, representing the massive infrastructure development he embarked on during his presidency. The inside has 10 pillars representing the 10 provinces of Zambia, the 10 Commandments from the Bible written in English and Arabic, and a portrait of Sata at St Ignatius Catholic Church on the day he made the pronouncement. A stairway outside the mausoleum leads to the temple's upper level, with the steps having the names of 29 districts created under his leadership as president.{{Cite web |title=Let's speed up works on Sata's mausoleum |date=17 August 2014 |url=http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/lets-speed-up-works-on-satas-mausoleum/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |language=en-US}}

{{See|Rupiah Banda#Presidency}}

Rupiah Banda was the second former head of state to be buried at the Presidential Memorial Park.{{Cite news |last= |date=2022-03-19 |title=Zambia's late former President Rupiah Banda buried |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zambias-late-former-president-rupiah-banda-buried-2022-03-18/ |access-date=2023-05-05}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-13 |title=Zambia's ex-president Rupiah Banda to be buried on March 18 |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/africa/zambia-rupiah-banda-to-be-buried-on-march-18-3746272 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Zambia's Late Former President Rupiah Banda Buried |work=usnews.com |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-03-18/zambias-late-former-president-rupiah-banda-buried |access-date=May 5, 2023}}

{{See|Kenneth Kaunda#Independence struggle and presidency|State funeral of Kenneth Kaunda}}

President Kaunda was the first democratically elected president of Zambia after the country gained independence from Britain in 1964. He served as an elder statesman for the African continent until he fell ill. Kaunda played an important role in serving Zambia, the Southern African region, and the rest of the continent. His tombstone bears the inscription of "ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION" motto, representing his dedication to unifying the country's 73 tribes. Kaunda was buried here in July 2021 after the High court dismissed a petition by one of his sons who wanted to have him buried at his farm next to his late wife. The son had argued that his father had wished to be buried next to his wife.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Kenneth Kaunda's children sue to stop burial by State |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/africa/kenneth-kaunda-s-children-sue-to-stop-burial-by-state-3463656 |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Nation |language=en}}

{{See|Death and state funeral of Edgar Lungu}}

Following the death of Edgar Lungu on 5 June 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa, the sixth president of Zambia, the Zambian government initially announced plans to bury him at Embassy Park on 23 June 2025,{{Cite web |date=2025-06-16 |title=Edgar Lungu: Zambian ex-president's family settle funeral row with government |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1kvkwdp1xzo |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} alongside other former heads of state. However, on 18 June, Lungu's family abruptly halted the planned repatriation of his remains, citing a breach in the funeral agreement and reiterating the late president’s alleged wish that President Hakainde Hichilema should not attend the funeral.

This dispute led to the cancellation of the state burial. On 20 June 2025, the family announced that Lungu would instead be buried in South Africa, making him the first former head of state from another country to be interred on South African soil.{{Cite web |last=Zwane |first=Sisanda |date=2025-06-20 |title=Former Zambian President Lungu to be buried in SA after tensions between family, government |url=https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/06/20/former-zambian-president-lungu-to-be-buried-in-sa-after-tensions-between-family-government |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=EWN}}{{Cite web |title=Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu to be buried in South Africa |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/former-zambian-president-edgar-lungu-to-be-buried-in-sa/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=SABC News}}

• [https://nhcc.org.zm/project/embassy-park-presidential-burial-site/ Embassy Park Presidential Burial Site]

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Category:Buildings and structures in Lusaka

Category:Cemeteries in Zambia

Category:Monuments and memorials in Zambia