The Zambian government has filed an urgent court case in South Africa to halt the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, scheduled for Wednesday.
This move comes amid a dispute between the government and Lungu’s family over the burial arrangements, with the family opting for a private ceremony in South Africa instead of a state funeral in Zambia.
The attorney general argues that a state funeral is a formal public event that honors a person of national significance, and Lungu, as a former president, “belongs to the nation of Zambia.”
The family, however, has indicated that the funeral will proceed as planned, despite not being served with court papers.
The row underscores the tense relationship between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, which persisted even after Lungu’s death.
