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The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu's funeral stopped on request of attorney general
The funeral of the former Zambian president Edgar Lungu has been stopped while mourners waited in a cathedral in Johannesburg, as an extraordinary feud Lungu had with his successor continues to play out after his death. A high court judge in Pretoria ordered a halt to Lungu's burial at the Cathedral of Christ the King in central Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, following a last-minute request by by Zambia's attorney general. Lungu's black-clad wife arrived at the cathedral, visibly upset, shortly after the judge's order and a mass was held instead. The judge ordered a full hearing to take place 4 August. Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa this month aged 68 after an undisclosed illness. His family said he had made a specific request that the current president, Hakainde Hichilema, should not attend his funeral. The government had planned a state funeral presided over by Hichilema. The attorney general, Mulilo Kabesha, told the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation that state funerals with full military honours were required by law, citing a previous local court ruling on the burial of Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda. Kabesha said: 'The high court ruled that a former president is not a private arrangement, is not private property, is national property and his burial should be handled by the state. The moment that a national mourning is declared, the law kicks in.' Court papers filed by Kabesha said a grave had been prepared for Lungu in the national cemetery where all other former presidents were buried. A state funeral for Lungu has already been cancelled twice. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a bitterly fought election in 2021, having lost to him in 2016. In 2017, Hichilema was sent to prison for four months on charges of treason, when his convoy did not give way to Lungu's presidential motorcade. The charges were dropped and Hichilema released after an international outcry. After Hichilema took power, Lungu accused his successor of targeting him and in effect placing him under house arrest. In 2023, police stopped Lungu from going out for runs, saying they were 'political activism' and needed to be approved beforehand to 'ensure public safety'. Lungu's wife, Esther Lungu, and their children have faced various corruption charges. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing cars, which she was due to face in court this week. Last year, Lungu attempted to return to frontline politics but was barred from running again for the presidency in next year's election. Zambia's constitutional court ruled that when Lungu took over as president after the incumbent, Michael Sata, died in 2015, the period until the 2016 election counted as a full first term in power. Associated Press contributed to this report
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Zambians protest over heinous child rape reports
Warning: This story contains distressing details. A protest march has been held in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, against a recent spate of reports of men raping children. Over the last two months, Zambians have been shocked by several cases of child rape, some of which resulted in death. Among the most horrific reports was that of a father allegedly raping his seven-year-old daughter while she was admitted to hospital for cancer treatment. There have also been reports of a five-year-old allegedly being raped by a gang of four men, while another father was jailed for raping and infecting his six-year-old with genital warts, a sexually transmitted infection. Zambia's Justice Minister Princess Kasune-Zulu has called for the castration of child rapists as an extreme measure to deter perpetrators and protect children from abuse. "How low can we go as a nation? How low can we go as a society? What is happening is sickening. It is beyond laws now - it is up to us as Zambians to interrogate why our morals have decayed," she recently told parliament. Following the reports, civil society organisations, musicians, and individuals held a protest march on Thursday, calling for the government to amend the law to introduce tougher punishments for child rapists. In a petition handed to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, they demanded the law be changed so that those accused of child rape are not granted bail. In response, Nalumango said the issue concerns everyone and that Zambians must take a stand. A musician who took part in the protest march told the BBC that "we need to created a safe environment for our children". Daputsa Nkhata-Zulu, also known as Sista D, added that child rapists should be castrated "for the safety of children and also to deprive them of the pride of manhood because they don't deserve it." In just the last three months of 2024, Zambia recorded more than 10,000 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) involving children, according to the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. These were mostly in the capital, Lusaka. More than 32,000 people received counselling for GBV last year, according to the Zambia Police 2024 annual GBV data analysis. One-year-olds among those raped during Sudan civil war, UN says Sierra Leone sexual violence: What difference did the national emergency make? Kenya femicide: Why men fail to condemn deadly misogyny Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Zambians protest in Lusaka over spate of child rape reports
Warning: This story contains distressing details.A protest march has been held in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, against a recent spate of reports of men raping the last two months, Zambians have been shocked by several cases of child rape, some of which resulted in the most horrific reports was that of a father allegedly raping his seven-year-old daughter while she was admitted to hospital for cancer have also been reports of a five-year-old allegedly being raped by a gang of four men, while another father was jailed for raping and infecting his six-year-old with genital warts, a sexually transmitted infection. Zambia's Justice Minister Princess Kasune-Zulu has called for the castration of child rapists as an extreme measure to deter perpetrators and protect children from abuse."How low can we go as a nation? How low can we go as a society? What is happening is sickening. It is beyond laws now - it is up to us as Zambians to interrogate why our morals have decayed," she recently told the reports, civil society organisations, musicians, and individuals held a protest march on Thursday, calling for the government to amend the law to introduce tougher punishments for child a petition handed to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, they demanded the law be changed so that those accused of child rape are not granted response, Nalumango said the issue concerns everyone and that Zambians must take a stand. A musician who took part in the protest march told the BBC that "we need to created a safe environment for our children".Daputsa Nkhata-Zulu, also known as Sista D, added that child rapists should be castrated "for the safety of children and also to deprive them of the pride of manhood because they don't deserve it."In just the last three months of 2024, Zambia recorded more than 10,000 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) involving children, according to the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. These were mostly in the capital, than 32,000 people received counselling for GBV last year, according to the Zambia Police 2024 annual GBV data analysis. You may also be interested in: One-year-olds among those raped during Sudan civil war, UN saysSierra Leone sexual violence: What difference did the national emergency make?Kenya femicide: Why men fail to condemn deadly misogyny Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
