Bury ECL as he wished, Gov’t tells family

By BARNABAS ZULU

…as Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha announces that government will not contest the verdict of the Supreme Court of South Africa that has overturned the High Court decision to surrender the mortal remains of late former President Lungu  to the Zambian government

GOVERNMENT has announced that it will not pursue any further legal action following a ruling by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal concerning the burial of former Sixth Republican President Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

In a statement issued yesterday, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha said although Government disagreed with the court’s decision, it had resolved not to exercise its right to appeal to South Africa’s Constitutional Court.

“As a result of today’s judgement, this is now a private matter for the Lungu family to proceed with their desired burial in the Republic of South Africa,” Mr Kabesha said.

Mr Kabesha said Government’s actions over the past year had been motivated by a desire to honour late former President Lungu in accordance with Zambia’s long-standing tradition regarding the burial of former Heads of State.

Mr Kabesha explained that former Presidents Levy Mwanawasa, Frederick Chiluba, Michael Sata, Kenneth Kaunda and Rupiah Banda were all accorded burial at Embassy Park in Lusaka with full state and military honours.

“We believed that we would honour the Sixth President as we have honoured all other former Presidents, and thereby give the millions of Zambians he led an opportunity to mourn him in their own country,” he said.

The Zambian government has however maintained that individuals who die outside their countries should ordinarily be buried in their homeland, citing the country’s history of facilitating the repatriation of foreign nationals and liberation heroes who died outside their countries.

“It was in that same spirit that Government sought to return President Lungu’s remains to Zambia,” Mr Kabesha stated.

However, following the latest ruling, Government said it had accepted that the matter would now be handled by the family.

Despite the legal dispute, Government conveyed its condolences to the Lungu family and noted the late President’s contribution to national development.

The statement also noted that President Hakainde Hichilema had declared and later extended a period of national mourning following President Lungu’s death.

Mr Kabesha paid tribute to the former Head of State, saying his legacy would remain part of the country’s national history.

“President Lungu served as the Sixth Republican President of Zambia from 2015 to 2021, and his place in our nation’s history remains secure. May the soul of His Excellency Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu rest in peace,” he said.