Zambian leader's corpse to be handed back according to South African court ruling
In a landmark ruling, a South African judge has ordered the repatriation and burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu in Lusaka, Zambia. The judge's decision overrides the wishes of Lungu's family, who had wanted to bury him in South Africa.
Lungu served as Zambia's head of state from 2015 to 2021. His tenure was marked by tension with his successor, current President Hakainde Hichilema, who was jailed in 2017 during Lungu's presidency.
The Zambian government had planned a state funeral in Lusaka for Lungu, and the High Court in Pretoria has reinforced this decision. The court ruled that 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.
Last year, Lungu accused the government of Hichilema of harassment and travel restrictions, including allegedly blocking his medical trip to South Africa. This tension appears to have played a role in the court's decision, as Lungu's remains died while receiving medical treatment in South Africa.
Despite the family's opposition, the High Court's ruling allows for Zambia to repatriate the remains of former President Lungu. The burial took place on May 21, 2023, in Lusaka, according to officials. It is expected that the state funeral for Lungu will be held in Lusaka as planned.
The family may still appeal the judge's order, but for now, the repatriation and burial of former President Edgar Lungu in Zambia is set to proceed.
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