In a significant ruling, the Pretoria High Court has decided that Zambia's government has the right to repatriate the remains of former President Edgar Lungu, who passed away in June at the age of 68. This decision comes despite objections from Lungu's family, who wished to conduct private burial arrangements in South Africa.
Zambia Wins Legal Battle for Ex-President Lungu's Body Repatriation
Zambia Wins Legal Battle for Ex-President Lungu's Body Repatriation
A South African court allows Zambia to repatriate the body of former President Edgar Lungu for a state funeral, despite family opposition.
The court's ruling emphasized that public interest should take precedence over personal wishes, a position advocated by Zambian state lawyers during the dispute. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba, who presided over the case, stated that it was the government’s prerogative to manage the repatriation of Lungu’s body and ordered his family to hand it over immediately.
The tension surrounding Lungu's funeral arrangements had stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the former president and current President Hakainde Hichilema. Reports indicated that Lungu had expressed his desire for Hichilema not to attend his funeral services, complicating the family’s request for control over arrangements.
Prior to the legal objections, there had been an agreement between Lungu's family and the Zambian government to conduct a state funeral, but relations soured leading to the family's insistence on a private burial in South Africa. Lungu served as the president of Zambia from 2015 until 2021, when he was defeated by Hichilema and subsequently retreated from the political spotlight, despite returning to the political scene at a later stage.
As this situation continues to develop, more details are expected to emerge regarding the logistics of Lungu's repatriation and the forthcoming state funeral.
The tension surrounding Lungu's funeral arrangements had stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the former president and current President Hakainde Hichilema. Reports indicated that Lungu had expressed his desire for Hichilema not to attend his funeral services, complicating the family’s request for control over arrangements.
Prior to the legal objections, there had been an agreement between Lungu's family and the Zambian government to conduct a state funeral, but relations soured leading to the family's insistence on a private burial in South Africa. Lungu served as the president of Zambia from 2015 until 2021, when he was defeated by Hichilema and subsequently retreated from the political spotlight, despite returning to the political scene at a later stage.
As this situation continues to develop, more details are expected to emerge regarding the logistics of Lungu's repatriation and the forthcoming state funeral.
