South Africa's Pretoria high court has endorsed the Zambian government's request to bring back the remains of former president Edgar Lungu, who passed away in June at 68. Despite opposition from Lungu's family, who sought a private burial in South Africa, the court determined the government's interests prevailed. The ruling marks the culmination of tensions between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, as Lungu’s family reported that he had expressed a desire for Hichilema to be absent from his funeral proceedings. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba asserted that the Zambian government had the right to repatriate Lungu's body and mandated the family to relinquish it to the authorities immediately. Following Lungu's death from an undisclosed illness, disputes emerged regarding funeral arrangements, revealing a previous agreement between the family and the government that later deteriorated. Lungu held office from 2015 until his electoral defeat in 2021, following which he momentarily withdrew from political life before re-engaging in the political arena. This story remains in development, and more updates will follow soon.
South African Court Approves Repatriation of Ex-President Lungu's Body to Zambia
South African Court Approves Repatriation of Ex-President Lungu's Body to Zambia
In a significant ruling, a South African court has permitted Zambia to repatriate the remains of late president Edgar Lungu for a state funeral, overriding family wishes for a private burial.
South African Court Approves Repatriation of Ex-President Lungu's Body to Zambia
In a significant ruling, a South African court has permitted Zambia to repatriate the remains of late president Edgar Lungu for a state funeral, overriding family wishes for a private burial.
South Africa's Pretoria high court has endorsed the Zambian government's request to bring back the remains of former president Edgar Lungu, who passed away in June at 68. Despite opposition from Lungu's family, who sought a private burial in South Africa, the court determined the government's interests prevailed. The ruling marks the culmination of tensions between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, as Lungu’s family reported that he had expressed a desire for Hichilema to be absent from his funeral proceedings. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba asserted that the Zambian government had the right to repatriate Lungu's body and mandated the family to relinquish it to the authorities immediately. Following Lungu's death from an undisclosed illness, disputes emerged regarding funeral arrangements, revealing a previous agreement between the family and the government that later deteriorated. Lungu held office from 2015 until his electoral defeat in 2021, following which he momentarily withdrew from political life before re-engaging in the political arena. This story remains in development, and more updates will follow soon.
In a significant ruling, a South African court has permitted Zambia to repatriate the remains of late president Edgar Lungu for a state funeral, overriding family wishes for a private burial.
South Africa's Pretoria high court has endorsed the Zambian government's request to bring back the remains of former president Edgar Lungu, who passed away in June at 68. Despite opposition from Lungu's family, who sought a private burial in South Africa, the court determined the government's interests prevailed. The ruling marks the culmination of tensions between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, as Lungu’s family reported that he had expressed a desire for Hichilema to be absent from his funeral proceedings. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba asserted that the Zambian government had the right to repatriate Lungu's body and mandated the family to relinquish it to the authorities immediately. Following Lungu's death from an undisclosed illness, disputes emerged regarding funeral arrangements, revealing a previous agreement between the family and the government that later deteriorated. Lungu held office from 2015 until his electoral defeat in 2021, following which he momentarily withdrew from political life before re-engaging in the political arena. This story remains in development, and more updates will follow soon.
