A South African court docket has dominated that Zambia’s authorities can repatriate the physique of former President Edgar Lungu and provides him a state funeral, regardless of his household’s opposition.
Lungu’s household had needed to bury him privately in South Africa, the place he died in June. They had been left visibly distraught by the Pretoria excessive court docket’s determination.
The Zambian state welcomed the ruling, saying that whereas it mourned with the previous statesman’s household, Lungu “belongs to the nation”.
The dispute follows a long-standing feud between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, with Lungu’s household saying he had indicated that Hichilema mustn’t attend his funeral.
Handing down the ruling, choose Aubrey Ledwaba stated the Zambian authorities was “entitled to repatriate the physique of the late president” and ordered his household to “instantly give up” it to authorities.
Following Lungu’s demise from an undisclosed sickness on the age of 68, the household needed to be answerable for the funeral preparations, together with the repatriation of his physique, however the Zambian authorities sought to take management.
The federal government and his household later agreed he would have a state funeral earlier than relations broke down over the exact preparations, prompting the household to go for a burial in South Africa.
The previous president’s elder sister Bertha Lungu cried in court docket after the decision was introduced.
It is unclear if Mr Lungu’s household will attraction in opposition to the court docket ruling.
Talking over the loud wails, Zambian Legal professional Common Mulilo D Kabesha stated the ruling was not a win for the federal government however fairly “what makes good sense”.
“When you find yourself the daddy of the nation, you’ll be able to’t limit your self to your speedy household,” he stated.
Mr Kabesha praised the court docket for making a “sound judgment” and stated that whereas the household had a proper to attraction, this was a “studying curve” for these aspiring to the best workplace.
Lungu led Zambia from 2015 till 2021 when he misplaced the election to Hichilema by a big margin.
After that defeat he stepped again from politics however later returned to the fray.
Extra reporting by Nomsa Maseko