Latest news with #statefuneral
The Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
High court orders repatriation of ex-Zambian leader Edgar Lungu's body
The Pretoria high court on Friday ordered the repatriation of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu's body for a state funeral, siding with Zambia's government over his family who wanted him buried in South Africa, not in the presence of his successor. Lungu, Zambia's head of state from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa on June 5 while receiving medical treatment. The high court halted plans for Lungu to be buried in Johannesburg on June 25, hours before a private ceremony was due to start. Zambia's government had approached the court arguing that Lungu should be given a state funeral and buried at a designated site in the Zambian capital Lusaka, like all other presidents since independence from Britain in 1964. Lungu's family said he did not want incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, a long-standing political rival and his successor, at his funeral.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Zambia ex-president must be sent home for burial, South African court rules
A South African court has ruled that Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa, should be buried in Zambia against his family's wishes. Lungu's burial has been the subject of a two-month dispute between Zambia's government, which had planned a state funeral for him in Lusaka, and his family, who wanted him buried in South Africa. Lungu, Zambia's head of state from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa on June 5 while receiving medical treatment. South Africa's high court halted plans for Lungu to be buried in Johannesburg on June 25, hours before a private ceremony was due to start. Zambia's government had approached the court arguing that Lungu should be given a state funeral and buried at a designated site in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, like all other presidents since independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Lungu's family said the late leader did not want the current president, Hakainde Hichilema – a longstanding political rival and his successor, at his funeral. On Friday, a high court judge in Pretoria said Lungu's body should 'immediately' be handed over to a representative of Zambia's court system for repatriation and burial in Lusaka. 'A former president's personal wishes or the wishes of his family cannot outweigh the right of the state to honour that individual with a state funeral,' the court said. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, who was at the court, said the government appreciated the judge's ruling. Lungu's sister, Bertha Lungu, also at the court, was in tears after the judgement was read out. Lungu's Patriotic Front party said the family had 'filed an appeal against the judgement'. Lungu was elected to lead the copper-rich Southern African country in 2015, but lost elections six years later to Hichilema, from the United Party for National Development. Since then, his wife and children have been charged with corruption and possession of suspected proceeds of crime, in what the family has claimed is part of a political vendetta. Lungu's daughter, Tasila Lungu, was arrested in February on money laundering charges, having previously been detained with her mother and sister on fraud charges in 2024. Her brother, Dalitso, is also facing corruption charges.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
South African court tells Zambian ex-president's family to hand over body for burial at home
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 a 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 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 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 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. __ Jacob Zimba in Lusaka contributed to this report. ____
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
South African court orders repatriation of ex-Zambian leader Lungu's body
South African court orders repatriation of ex-Zambian leader Lungu's body PRETORIA (Reuters) -A South African court on Friday ordered the repatriation of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu's body for a state funeral, siding with Zambia's government over his family who wanted him buried in South Africa, not in the presence of his successor. Lungu, Zambia's head of state from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa on June 5 while receiving medical treatment. South Africa's high court halted plans for Lungu to be buried in Johannesburg on June 25, hours before a private ceremony was due to start. Zambia's government had approached the court arguing that Lungu should be given a state funeral and buried at a designated site in the Zambian capital Lusaka, like all other presidents since independence from Britain in 1964. Lungu's family said he did not want current President Hakainde Hichilema, a longstanding political rival and his successor, at his funeral. On Friday, a high court judge in Pretoria said Lungu's body should be handed over to a representative of Zambia's court system for repatriation. Lungu's sister Bertha Lungu was in tears after the judgment was read out. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, also at the court, said the government appreciated the judge's ruling. Analysts say Lungu's legacy as president was chequered. He was praised for a massive road-building programme but racked up a huge debt pile, which the Southern African country has been battling to restructure. Solve the daily Crossword
Zawya
3 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Ghana: Mahama announces ‘Evening of Reflections' for departed 8
AFRICA 'An Evening of Reflections and Memorials for the eight persons who lost their lives in Wednesday's helicopter crash will be held at the forecourt of the State House on Saturday, 9th August. The 5.00 pm programme will climax the three days of national mourning. The state funeral, an inter-denominational service, will be on Thursday, 15th August at the Black Star Square. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana. Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release. The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages. © ZAWYA 2025
