Zambian Government Tries to Stop a Former President's Funeral Taking Place in South Africa
The Zambian government filed court papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa. A hearing took place about an hour before his funeral service was meant to begin.
The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home–something Lungu's family has refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. Members of Lungu's family, who were dressed in black for the funeral, traveled to a courthouse in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, for the hearing that would decide if he could be buried. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling.
Lungu, who was Zambia's leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details of the burial. His family and lawyers said he left specific instructions that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, while the Zambian government said Hichilema was due to preside over the state funeral.
Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha filed papers in a South African court Tuesday seeking an urgent injunction to stop Wednesday's funeral, according to Zambia's national broadcaster ZNBC. 'The court papers demand that the former president be buried in Zambia with full military honors, as mandated by Zambian law and in keeping with the public interest,' ZNBC reported.
Lungu's funeral service was due to take place at a church in Johannesburg, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Pretoria. Lungu would then be buried in a private ceremony, according to his family.
Lungu and Hichilema had a long history of political enmity in the southern African country. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 presidential election, and his government imprisoned Hichilema for four months in 2017 on charges of treason because his convoy didn't give way to the president's motorcade on a road. The move to imprison Hichilema was widely criticized by the international community, and Hichilema was released, and the charges dropped. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a 2021 vote.
Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using the police to restrict his movements and effectively place him under house arrest. The government denied the accusations.
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Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Zambian government tries to stop a former president's funeral taking place in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG: The Zambian government filed last-minute legal papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa on Wednesday, forcing members of Lungu's family to attend a court hearing dressed in their black funeral attire. The hearing in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, began around an hour before Lungu's funeral service was due to take place. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling and if the ex-leader could be buried. Meanwhile, mourners arrived for the funeral service at a Johannesburg church around 60 kilometers away. The court challenge was the latest development in a nearly monthlong dispute between Lungu's family and the Zambian government over where and how the former leader is buried. The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home – something Lungu's family have refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu, who was Zambia's leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details. His family and lawyers said he left specific instructions that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, while the Zambian government said Hichilema was due to preside over the state funeral. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha filed papers in a South African court Tuesday seeking an urgent injunction to stop Wednesday's funeral, according to Zambia's national broadcaster ZNBC. The court papers demand that the former president be buried in Zambia with full military honors, as mandated by Zambian law and in keeping with the public interest, ZNBC reported. Zambia's government said it had already prepared a grave for Lungu at a cemetery where all presidents are traditionally buried. It added that any personal wishes must give way to the national interest. Lungu's family decided against repatriating his body and arranged their own funeral service and a private burial. Top members of Lungu's political party traveled to South Africa for the funeral. Lungu and Hichilema had a long history of political enmity in the southern African country. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 presidential election, and his government imprisoned Hichilema for four months in 2017 on charges of treason because his convoy didn't give way to the president's motorcade on a road. The move to imprison Hichilema was widely criticized by the international community and Hichilema was released and the charges dropped. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a 2021 vote. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using the police to restrict his movements and effectively place him under house arrest. Lungu also accused the government of interfering in a court case that prevented him from running again in next year's presidential election against Hichilema. The government denied the accusations.
Al Arabiya
9 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Zambian Government Tries to Stop a Former President's Funeral Taking Place in South Africa
The Zambian government filed court papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa. A hearing took place about an hour before his funeral service was meant to begin. The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home–something Lungu's family has refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. Members of Lungu's family, who were dressed in black for the funeral, traveled to a courthouse in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, for the hearing that would decide if he could be buried. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling. Lungu, who was Zambia's leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details of the burial. His family and lawyers said he left specific instructions that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, while the Zambian government said Hichilema was due to preside over the state funeral. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha filed papers in a South African court Tuesday seeking an urgent injunction to stop Wednesday's funeral, according to Zambia's national broadcaster ZNBC. 'The court papers demand that the former president be buried in Zambia with full military honors, as mandated by Zambian law and in keeping with the public interest,' ZNBC reported. Lungu's funeral service was due to take place at a church in Johannesburg, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Pretoria. Lungu would then be buried in a private ceremony, according to his family. Lungu and Hichilema had a long history of political enmity in the southern African country. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 presidential election, and his government imprisoned Hichilema for four months in 2017 on charges of treason because his convoy didn't give way to the president's motorcade on a road. The move to imprison Hichilema was widely criticized by the international community, and Hichilema was released, and the charges dropped. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a 2021 vote. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using the police to restrict his movements and effectively place him under house arrest. The government denied the accusations.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Zambia's Ex-President Lungu Will Be Buried in South Africa Due to Family's Feud With Zambia
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu will be buried in South Africa instead of his homeland because of a disagreement between his family and Zambia's government over his funeral. Lungu died from an undisclosed illness at a hospital in South Africa early this month, and the process to repatriate his body for burial in Zambia has been marred by a bitter feud between his family and the current Zambian government. It included the family's demand that Lungu's political rival and current President Hakainde Hichilema should not attend his funeral. The spokesperson and lawyer for the Lungu family, Makebi Zulu, said the decision to bury him in South Africa is in accordance with the family's wishes for a private ceremony. 'We would especially like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for their respectful support and for honoring the family's decision to hold a private funeral and burial here in South Africa,' Zulu said. On Thursday, Hichilema, in a televised address to the nation, canceled the 16-day national mourning that he had declared earlier. 'Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning,' he said. 'We have done everything possible to engage the family of our departed sixth Republican President, and we have reached a point where a clear decision has to be made.' Hichilema also apologized to the South African government for the inconvenience. Lungu, 68, had ruled the southern African country from 2015 to 2021, when he lost power to Hichilema. He remained an influential figure in Zambian politics ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Lungu and Hichilema were bitter rivals. Their conflict culminated in Hichilema's imprisonment in 2017 when Lungu was president. Hichilema was accused of treason after his motorcade failed to give way to Lungu's presidential convoy. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using police to harass him and restrict his movements. His family also said the government had initially prevented him from traveling to South Africa for treatment–a charge the government denied.
