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

[ad_1] 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 remedy for an undisclosed sickness.

In keeping with his household, he had left directions that his political rival and present President Hakainde Hichilema "shouldn't come wherever 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 brought about 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 shall be flown to the Zambian capital, Lusaka, on Wednesday on a non-public constitution planeOn arrival on the airport, the physique shall be obtained by the household after which there shall be full navy honoursIt will then be transported to Lungu's residence in Lusaka the place it'll lie in stateFor three days, beginning on Thursday, it is going to be taken to a convention centre within the capital the place the general public will pay their respectsA state funeral shall be held on Sunday 22 JuneThe former president shall be interred the next day at Embassy Park, the official presidential burial grounds, and official mourning will finish. At a joint press briefing in South Africa, Lungu household spokesperson Makebi Zulu, sitting alongside Secretary to Zambia's Cupboard Patrick Kangwa, mentioned the household apologised "for the inconvenience and ache that the protracted negotiations could have brought about however we had been doing our greatest to honour the previous president's private needs".

Mr Zulu additionally mentioned that the household was continuing on the premise 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 tough 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 yr the Constitutional Courtroom barred him from operating, ruling that he had already served the utmost two phrases allowed by regulation.

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 yr, Lungu complained of police harassment and accused the authorities of successfully placing him underneath home arrest. He additionally mentioned he had been prevented from leaving the nation. The federal government denied each accusations.