The family of Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu has announced that he will be buried in South Africa in a private ceremony, following a disagreement with the government regarding the funeral arrangements. The conflict arose when President Hakainde Hichilema cut the national mourning period short after Lungu’s family refused to allow his body to be repatriated to Zambia for a funeral that was planned in the capital, Lusaka.
The family is expected to reveal the burial date in Johannesburg, emphasizing their preference for a ceremony that adheres to their wishes for dignity and privacy. This marks the unprecedented occurrence of a former head of state from a different country being interred in South Africa.
Lungu’s will specified that Hichilema, his political rival, should not attend his funeral. Although there was an understanding for Lungu to receive a state funeral, the arrangement fell apart last minute, prompting immediate actions from the government to end the mourning period.
Noting that Lungu belonged to Zambia, President Hichilema expressed disappointment with the family’s decision. Political tensions have heightened over Lungu’s burial, with opposition party Patriotic Front criticizing the government for politicizing circumstances surrounding a former president’s death.
Civil society has called for respectful dialogue to resolve this matter, as it has raised concerns about the nation’s dignity. Lungu, who served as president from 2015 to 2021, died while undergoing treatment in South Africa.
Source: www.bbc.com
