Zambian ex-president’s household settle funeral row with authorities

After days of uncertainty and negotiations, the funeral preparations for Zambia’s former president have been finalised.

Edgar Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died 11 days in the past in South Africa the place he was receiving therapy for an undisclosed sickness.

Based on his household, he had left directions that his political rival and present President Hakainde Hichilema “shouldn’t come anyplace close to his physique”.

However a spokesperson for the Lungu household confirmed that an settlement had been reached with the federal government that allowed for Hichilema to preside over a state funeral subsequent Sunday.

The row prompted consternation amongst some in Zambia with individuals left questioning how they need to mourn their former chief.

After days of talks, the Lungu household and the federal government have agreed that:

• The previous president’s physique will probably be flown to the Zambian capital, Lusaka, on Wednesday on a personal constitution airplane
• On arrival on the airport, the physique will probably be obtained by the household after which there will probably be full navy honours
• It’s going to then be transported to Lungu’s residence in Lusaka the place it’ll lie in state
• For 3 days, beginning on Thursday, will probably be taken to a convention centre within the capital the place the general public will pay their respects
• A state funeral will probably be held on Sunday 22 June with official mourning ending the next day
• The previous president will probably be interred on Monday at Embassy Park, the official presidential burial grounds.

At a joint press briefing in South Africa, Lungu household spokesperson Makebi Zulu, sitting alongside Secretary to Zambia’s Cupboard Patrick Kangwa, stated the household apologised “for the inconvenience and ache that the protracted negotiations might have prompted however we had been doing our greatest to honour the previous president’s private needs”.

Mr Zulu additionally stated that the household was continuing on the idea that the federal government would “not deviate from our settlement”.

Talking for the federal government, Mr Kangwa appealed for unity and thanked Zambians for his or her endurance “throughout this troublesome time”.

After six years as head state, Lungu misplaced the 2021 election to Hichilema by a big margin.

After that defeat he stepped again from politics however later returned to the fray.

He had ambitions to vie for the presidency once more however on the finish of final 12 months the Constitutional Court docket barred him from operating, ruling that he had already served the utmost two phrases allowed by legislation.

Regardless of his disqualification from the presidential election, he remained massively influential in Zambian politics and didn’t maintain again in his criticism of his successor.

Final 12 months, Lungu complained of police harassment and accused the authorities of successfully placing him beneath home arrest. He additionally stated he had been prevented from leaving the nation. The federal government denied each accusations.