Sata never set foot at the funeral venue following threats to beat him up by MMD cadres but he unexpectedly turned up at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre where Chiluba’s body lay in state and paid his last respects, viewing it along ordinary citizens, vexing even security officials who did not know what to do with the then opposition leader who was clearly in bad books with President Banda. 
Sata hakukanyaga katika eneo la mazishi kufuatia vitisho vya kumpiga vilivyotolewa na makada wa MMD lakini bila kutarajiwa alitokea katika Kituo cha Mikutano cha Kimataifa cha Mulungushi ambapo mwili wa Chiluba ulilazwa na kutoa heshima zake za mwisho, huku akiutazama pamoja na raia wa kawaida, na kuwachukiza maafisa wa usalama ambao hawakujua cha kufanya na mtu huyu ambaye wakati huo alikuwa ni kiongozi wa upinzani ambaye ni wazi alikuwa katika uhusiano mbaya na Rais Banda.