President  Hichilema has accorded an Official Funeral to late former MMD Cabinet Minister Austin Liato

President Hakainde Hichilema has accorded an official funeral to the late Austin Chisangu Liato, a prominent former cabinet minister during the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) era. Alongside the official funeral, the Head of State has declared a day of national mourning, observed on August 11, 2026, to allow the nation to pay its final respects to the veteran politician. Mr. Liato, who died at the age of 60 after a brief illness at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka, played a significant role in Zambian politics during the 2000s. He served in various ministerial portfolios under the MMD government, leaving a notable imprint on the country's political landscape before retiring from active frontline politics. According to a statement issued by Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa, final funeral rites and burial arrangements were slated for Leopards Hill Memorial Park in Lusaka. Family members, political allies, and government officials gathered to mourn a figure whose career spanned critical periods of Zambia's democratic evolution and labour movement. The decision by the presidency to grant an official funeral highlights the government's recognition of individuals who have served the nation in high public office, regardless of shifting political tides. State honors of this nature serve to bridge historical political divides and honor public service rendered to the Republic. As Zambia reflects on Liato's legacy, tributes have poured in from various political quarters, acknowledging both his contributions to governance and the complexities of his public career. The observance of national mourning underscores the solemnity with which the nation bids farewell to its veteran leaders.