Zambian Former President's Burial Venue Moved to South Africa Amidst Funeral Dispute

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.