Latest news with #Hichilema
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
South African court tells Zambian ex-president's family to hand over body for burial at home
JOHANNESBURG — A South African court on Friday ruled in favor of the government of Zambia and ordered that it can repatriate the remains of its former president and bury him in his home country, against his family's wishes. The Zambian government and the family of the late Edgar Lungu, Zambia's president from 2015 to 2021, have been embroiled in a legal battle over his remains and burial. Lungu died in June at a South African hospital after an undisclosed illness. He was 68. His family wanted him to be buried in South Africa and for the current Zambian president, Hakainde Hichilema, neither to attend his funeral nor be involved in its arrangements. The family said it was Lungu's final wish that Hichilema should not get anywhere near his burial, but the Zambian government went to court to stop him from being buried in South Africa. The court ruled on Friday that Zambia had the authority to hold a state funeral for its former leader. The court noted that the Zambian courts have previously emphasized that a state funeral is a matter of public interest and protocol for a person of national significance. 'Such that even if a president has expressed a desire not to be given a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by public interest,' said Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba. Lungu's family applied for leave to appeal the ruling on Friday, but they will have to convince the same court that made the order that there are reasonable prospects for a different outcome. Lungu and Hichilema were political rivals. Their conflict led to Hichilema's imprisonment in 2017, when Lungu was president. 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. Zambian Atty. Gen. Mulilo Kabesha welcomed the ruling, telling reporters that he hoped it would bring the matter to a close even though the family still had a right to appeal. 'This is not winning. You don't win over a burial. It's just what makes good sense, that the former president of the Republic of Zambia should be buried in his own country, the country where he was president,' said Kabesha. Magome writes for the Associated Press. Jacob Zimba in Lusaka contributed to this report.
DW
3 days ago
- Politics
- DW
South African court orders return of Zambian leader's body – DW – 08/08/2025
Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu's burial has been the subject of a two-month dispute between Zambia's government and his family. A South African court on Friday ruled that Zambia may repatriate the remains of former President Edgar Lungu, despite opposition from his family. "A former president's personal wishes or the wishes of his family cannot outweigh the right of the state to honor that individual with a state funeral," the High Court in Pretoria ruled. Lungu, who served as Zambia's head of state from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa in early June while receiving medical treatment. His family wanted to bury him in South Africa, but the Zambian government insisted on holding a state funeral. At the center of the dispute is the tension between Lungu and his successor, current President Hakainde Hichilema. Hichilema was jailed in 2017 during Lungu's presidency. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of harassment and travel restrictions, including allegedly blocking his medical trip to South Africa, a claim the government denied. Lungu's family said the former president did not want Hichilema anywhere near his funeral. Zambia's government had planned a state funeral in Lusaka and turned to the courts. On Friday, the South African judge ordered the family "to immediately surrender the body of the late president" to Zambian authorities to allow for its repatriation and burial in Lusaka. The family may still appeal, but officials say the burial will now proceed in Zambia.
3 days ago
- Politics
South Africa court: Zambia can repatriate ex-leader's body, bury him in home country
JOHANNESBURG -- A South African court on Friday ruled in favor of the government of Zambia and ordered that it can repatriate the remains of its former president and bury him in his home country, against his family's wishes. The Zambian government and the family of the late Edgar Lungu, Zambian president from 2015 to 2021, have been embroiled in legal battle over his remains and burial. Lungu died in June, aged 68, at a South African hospital following an undisclosed illness. His family wanted him to be buried in South Africa and for the current President Hakainde Hichilema neither to attend his funeral nor be involved in its arrangements. The family said it was Lungu's final wish that Hichilema should not get anywhere near his burial, but the Zambian government went to court to stop him being buried in South Africa. The court ruled on Friday that Zambia had the authority to hold a state funeral for its former leader. "The court noted that the Zambian courts have previously emphasized that a state funeral is a matter of public interest and protocol for a person of national significance. 'Such that even if a president has expressed a desire not to be given a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by public interest,' said Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba. Lungu and Hichilema were sworn political rivals. Their conflict led to Hichilema's imprisonment in 2017, when Lungu was president. 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. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha welcomed the judgment, telling reporters that he hoped the ruling would bring the matter to a close even though the family still had a right to appeal. 'This is not winning. You don't win over a burial. It's just what makes good sense, that the former president of the Republic of Zambia should be buried in his own country, the country where he was president,' said Kabesha.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Hand over the body for burial at home, a South African court tells Zambian ex-president's family
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court on Friday ruled in favor of the government of Zambia and ordered that it can repatriate the remains of its former president and bury him in his home country, against his family's wishes. The Zambian government and the family of the late Edgar Lungu, Zambian president from 2015 to 2021, have been embroiled in legal battle over his remains and burial. Lungu died in June, aged 68, at a South African hospital following an undisclosed illness. His family wanted him to be buried in South Africa and for the current President Hakainde Hichilema neither to attend his funeral nor be involved in its arrangements. The family said it was Lungu's final wish that Hichilema should not get anywhere near his burial, but the Zambian government went to court to stop him being buried in South Africa. The court ruled on Friday that Zambia had the authority to hold a state funeral for its former leader. "The court noted that the Zambian courts have previously emphasized that a state funeral is a matter of public interest and protocol for a person of national significance. 'Such that even if a president has expressed a desire not to be given a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by public interest,' said Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba. Lungu and Hichilema were sworn political rivals. Their conflict led to Hichilema's imprisonment in 2017, when Lungu was president. 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. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha welcomed the judgment, telling reporters that he hoped the ruling would bring the matter to a close even though the family still had a right to appeal. 'This is not winning. You don't win over a burial. It's just what makes good sense, that the former president of the Republic of Zambia should be buried in his own country, the country where he was president,' said Kabesha.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hand over the body for burial at home, a South African court tells Zambian ex-president's family
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court on Friday ruled in favor of the government of Zambia and ordered that it can repatriate the remains of its former president and bury him in his home country, against his family's wishes. The Zambian government and the family of the late Edgar Lungu, Zambian president from 2015 to 2021, have been embroiled in legal battle over his remains and burial. Lungu died in June, aged 68, at a South African hospital following an undisclosed illness. His family wanted him to be buried in South Africa and for the current President Hakainde Hichilema neither to attend his funeral nor be involved in its arrangements. The family said it was Lungu's final wish that Hichilema should not get anywhere near his burial, but the Zambian government went to court to stop him being buried in South Africa. The court ruled on Friday that Zambia had the authority to hold a state funeral for its former leader. 'The court noted that the Zambian courts have previously emphasized that a state funeral is a matter of public interest and protocol for a person of national significance. 'Such that even if a president has expressed a desire not to be given a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by public interest,' said Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba. Lungu and Hichilema were sworn political rivals. Their conflict led to Hichilema's imprisonment in 2017, when Lungu was president. 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. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha welcomed the judgment, telling reporters that he hoped the ruling would bring the matter to a close even though the family still had a right to appeal. 'This is not winning. You don't win over a burial. It's just what makes good sense, that the former president of the Republic of Zambia should be buried in his own country, the country where he was president,' said Kabesha.
