In This Article

  • Background of the Burial Dispute
  • Family's Decision to Move Burial to South Africa
  • Government's Response and Disagreement
  • Support and Criticism from Political Parties and Civil Society
  • Legacy of Edgar Lungu and Political Context
  • Unique Aspect of Burial in South Africa

Key Takeaways

  • Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu's burial venue has been moved to South Africa instead of Zambia, causing a dispute between his family and the Zambian government.
  • Zambia's current President Hakainde Hichilema intended for Lungu to be buried in Lusaka with full honors, but the family opted for a private ceremony in Johannesburg.
  • The decision to shift the burial location has led to the immediate end of the national mourning period in Zambia.
  • The Patriotic Front (PF), Lungu's political party, supported the family's decision and criticized the government for politicizing the burial.
  • This will be the first time a former head of state from another country is laid to rest in South Africa, making Lungu's burial plans unique.

Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu's burial arrangements have taken a dramatic turn, with his family deciding to have him interred in South Africa instead of Zambia, as originally planned. President Hakainde Hichilema had declared a national mourning period in Zambia following Lungu's passing, intending for the late president to be buried in Lusaka on Sunday. However, the family's decision to shift the burial to Johannesburg for a private ceremony has caused a rift between them and the Zambian government.

In a statement, family spokesperson Makebi Zulu expressed gratitude towards the South African authorities for respecting their wish for a private service for Lungu, acknowledging the emotional nature of the situation. President Hichilema, on the other hand, insisted that as a former head of state, Lungu should be laid to rest in Zambia with full honors, setting off a disagreement that prompted the immediate end of the mourning period in the country.

The Patriotic Front (PF), the political party Lungu led, sided with the family in the dispute, criticizing the government for turning the burial into a political issue. Civil society groups and religious leaders have also called for a speedy resolution to the matter, highlighting the impact of the stand-off on the nation's dignity.

Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia's president from 2015 to 2021, passed away in South Africa earlier this month after battling an undisclosed illness. Despite his electoral defeat to Hichilema in 2021 and subsequent disqualification from running for another term, Lungu remained a significant figure in Zambian politics, often openly criticizing his successor.

The change in Lungu's burial plans to South Africa marks a unique occurrence, as it will be the first time a former head of state from another country is laid to rest in South Africa.

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Source: Nilepost.

Tags:

#Zambia #Edgar Lungu #Funeral Dispute #South Africa