By Mogomotsi Magome and Jacob Zimba
The Zambian government filed court papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa on Wednesday. A hearing took place around an hour before his funeral service was meant to begin.
The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home — something Lungu’s family have refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
Members of Lungu’s family, who were dressed in black for the funeral, traveled to a courthouse in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, for the hearing that would decide if he could be buried. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling.
Lungu, who was Zambia’s leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68.
A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
