The late President Edgar Lungu.
By Thando Hlophe
A South African court on Friday ordered the repatriation of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu’s body for a state funeral in the country’s capital, Lusaka.
The ruling sided with Zambia’s government against 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.
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, 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 country has been battling to restructure.(Reuters)
