After months of dispute, Pretoria excessive courtroom says Edgar Lungu’s household should hand over his physique for burial in Zambia, in opposition to their needs.
A South African courtroom has dominated that Zambia’s former president, Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa, must be buried in Zambia in opposition to his household’s needs.
Lungu’s burial has been the topic of a two-month dispute between Zambia’s authorities, which had deliberate a state funeral for him in Lusaka, and his household, who wished him buried in South Africa.
Lungu, Zambia’s head of state from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa on June 5 whereas receiving medical therapy.
South Africa’s excessive courtroom halted plans for Lungu to be buried in Johannesburg on June 25, hours earlier than a non-public ceremony was on account of begin.
Zambia’s authorities had approached the courtroom arguing that Lungu must be given a state funeral and buried at a chosen website within the Zambian capital, Lusaka, like all different presidents since independence from the UK in 1964.
Lungu’s household stated the late chief didn’t need the present president, Hakainde Hichilema – a longstanding political rival and his successor, at his funeral.
On Friday, a excessive courtroom decide in Pretoria stated Lungu’s physique ought to “instantly” be handed over to a consultant of Zambia’s courtroom system for repatriation and burial in Lusaka.
“A former president’s private needs or the needs of his household can’t outweigh the proper of the state to honour that particular person with a state funeral,” the courtroom stated.
Zambia’s Lawyer Normal Mulilo Kabesha, who was on the courtroom, stated the federal government appreciated the decide’s ruling.
Lungu’s sister, Bertha Lungu, additionally on the courtroom, was in tears after the judgement was learn out.
Lungu’s Patriotic Entrance get together stated the household had “filed an enchantment in opposition to the judgement”.
Lungu was elected to steer the copper-rich Southern African nation in 2015, however misplaced elections six years later to Hichilema, from the United Get together for Nationwide Improvement.
Since then, his spouse and youngsters have been charged with corruption and possession of suspected proceeds of crime, in what the household has claimed is a part of a political vendetta.
Lungu’s daughter, Tasila Lungu, was arrested in February on cash laundering expenses, having beforehand been detained together with her mom and sister on fraud expenses in 2024.
Her brother, Dalitso, can also be going through corruption expenses.