The Pretoria High Court issued an eleventh-hour stay following an emergency petition from Zambia’s attorney general, forcing the replacement of planned burial rites with a memorial mass.
Former Zambian Leader Edgar Lungu’s Funeral Proceedings
The 68-year-old statesman, who governed Zambia from 2015-2021, passed away earlier this month in South Africa following undisclosed health complications. His final wishes explicitly excluded current President Hakainde Hichilema from funeral participation, conflicting with government plans for an official state ceremony. This standoff represents the latest chapter in a bitter political rivalry that defined Zambian politics for nearly a decade.
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Legal Battle Over Burial Rights
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha cited constitutional precedent requiring state-managed funerals for former heads of state, referencing similar proceedings for Zambia’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda. “Former presidents constitute national heritage, not private property,” Kabesha asserted, noting a prepared gravesite in the national leaders’ cemetery. The court scheduled a full hearing for August 4th to resolve the dispute.
Turbulent Political History
The Lungu-Hichilema rivalry saw multiple electoral clashes, with Hichilema finally unseating Lungu in 2021 after a controversial 2017 incident where Hichilema faced treason charges. Following the power transition, Lungu alleged political persecution, including restrictions on his movements that he characterized as house arrest. Meanwhile, Lungu’s family members face ongoing corruption allegations, adding layers to the political drama.
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Constitutional Controversies Continue
Last year’s constitutional court ruling barred Lungu from seeking reelection, determining his partial term following President Michael Sata’s death constituted a full presidential term. This legal interpretation effectively ended Lungu’s political comeback aspirations, leaving his legacy entangled in ongoing legal and political controversies that now extend to his final resting place.