Pretoria Excessive Court docket Decide Aubrey Ledwaba halted the deliberate burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu on 25 June 2025.
Nonetheless, Zambia’s Legal professional Common, Mulilo D. Kabesha, filed an pressing interim interdict utility after Lungu’s household deliberate a personal burial.
In response to the Zambian authorities, burial in Embassy Park is permitted by each nationwide customized and the Presidential Burial Web site Act.
Nonetheless, the Act doesn’t make this necessary.
PRETORIA HIGH COURT SETS LEGAL DEADLINES
The Pretoria Excessive Court docket set strict authorized deadlines. The Zambian authorities should reply by 4 July, and the Lungu household by 11 July 2025.
The ultimate listening to is ready for 4 August 2025. The Johannesburg mortuary permits Lungu’s household to view the stays, however burial awaits the courtroom’s choice.
LUNGU FAMILY CLAIMS
The household lawyer, Makebi Zulu, mentioned the late president requested present President Hakainde Hichilema to not attend his funeral.
The Patriotic Entrance (PF) claims that this choice violates the household’s autonomy and the deceased president’s ultimate needs.
CONTROVERSY OF LAW
The Zambian authorities cites the 2008 Burial Web site Act (Cap 264) to justify burial at Embassy Park.
Nonetheless, the Act solely permits burial at Embassy Park; it doesn’t require it. The household or authorities will determine.
Whereas it makes provisions for pensions, housing, workers, medical care, and funeral bills, the Former Presidents Act No. 21 of 1993 makes no point out of burial rights or places.
Therefore, the calls for of the state outweigh the needs of President Lungu and his household, elevating constitutional considerations concerning the manager department’s bounds (Presidential Burial Web site Act, Cap 264).
PUBLIC REACTION AND REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS
After the Pretoria Excessive Court docket determined to postpone the burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, mourners gathered for a prayer session on the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg on 25 June 2025.
The Zambian authorities and Lungu’s household have been clearly at odds over burial rights because of the courtroom’s intervention.
The case demonstrates the rising authorized and political challenges related to dealing with the deaths of political figures who cross worldwide borders, notably when the state and household can not agree on a burial location.
COULD UNRESOLVED BURIAL DISPUTES AFFECT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA?
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