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| Edgar Lungu funeral row: Zambia goes to court bid to stop his burial in South Africa | Edgar Lungu funeral row: Zambia goes to court bid to stop his burial in South Africa |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Edgar Lungu (above) and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, had a tense relationship dating back many years | Edgar Lungu (above) and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, had a tense relationship dating back many years |
| The Zambian government has filed an urgent case in a South African court seeking to stop the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, state media reports. | The Zambian government has filed an urgent case in a South African court seeking to stop the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, state media reports. |
| This is the latest twist in a row between the government and Lungu's family over his burial, after the family opted for a private ceremony in South Africa, rather than a full state funeral at home. | This is the latest twist in a row between the government and Lungu's family over his burial, after the family opted for a private ceremony in South Africa, rather than a full state funeral at home. |
| The Zambian attorney general has requested the court to halt the burial, scheduled for Wednesday, until the dispute is resolved, state broadcaster ZNBC reports. | The Zambian attorney general has requested the court to halt the burial, scheduled for Wednesday, until the dispute is resolved, state broadcaster ZNBC reports. |
| Local media quote the family as saying that the funeral would go ahead as planned, as they had not been served with court papers. | Local media quote the family as saying that the funeral would go ahead as planned, as they had not been served with court papers. |
| The dispute follows a long-standing feud between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, with Lungu's family saying he had indicated that Hichilema should not attend his funeral. | |
| From Dos Santos to Mugabe - the burial disputes over ex-leaders | From Dos Santos to Mugabe - the burial disputes over ex-leaders |
| The presidential feud that even death couldn't end | The presidential feud that even death couldn't end |
| Following Lungu's death in South Africa aged 68, the family wanted to be in charge of the funeral arrangements, including the repatriation of his body, but the Zambian authorities sought to take control. | |
| The government and his family later agreed he would have a state funeral before relations broke down over the precise arrangements, prompting the family to opt for a burial in South Africa. | The government and his family later agreed he would have a state funeral before relations broke down over the precise arrangements, prompting the family to opt for a burial in South Africa. |
| President Hichilema has since argued that Lungu, as a former president, "belongs to the nation of Zambia" and should be buried in the country. | President Hichilema has since argued that Lungu, as a former president, "belongs to the nation of Zambia" and should be buried in the country. |
| In the court papers, the Zambian attorney general, Mulilo D Kabesha, reportedly contends that a state funeral is a formal public event with military honours, intended to honour a person of national significance. | In the court papers, the Zambian attorney general, Mulilo D Kabesha, reportedly contends that a state funeral is a formal public event with military honours, intended to honour a person of national significance. |
| He is suing the family, including former first lady Esther Lungu and four children, family lawyer Makebi Zulu and the funeral home where the body is being kept. | He is suing the family, including former first lady Esther Lungu and four children, family lawyer Makebi Zulu and the funeral home where the body is being kept. |
| He argues that personal wishes should not override the greater public interest, citing the case of founding President Kenneth Kaunda. | He argues that personal wishes should not override the greater public interest, citing the case of founding President Kenneth Kaunda. |
| In 2021, Kaunda's family said he wanted to be laid to rest next to his wife and not at the site designated by the government. | In 2021, Kaunda's family said he wanted to be laid to rest next to his wife and not at the site designated by the government. |
| However, the government went ahead and buried Kaunda at Embassy Memorial Park in Lusaka. | However, the government went ahead and buried Kaunda at Embassy Memorial Park in Lusaka. |
| The current row over Lungu's burial underscores the tense relationship between him and his successor, which played out in life and continues even in death. | The current row over Lungu's burial underscores the tense relationship between him and his successor, which played out in life and continues even in death. |
| When Lungu was president, Hichilema was locked up for over 100 days on treason charges after Hichilema's motorcade allegedly refused to give way for him. | When Lungu was president, Hichilema was locked up for over 100 days on treason charges after Hichilema's motorcade allegedly refused to give way for him. |
| More Zambia stories from the BBC: | More Zambia stories from the BBC: |
| Funeral row causes chaos for mourners of Zambia's ex-president | Funeral row causes chaos for mourners of Zambia's ex-president |
| 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo | 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo |
| An ancient writing system confounding myths about Africa | An ancient writing system confounding myths about Africa |
| Zambia president orders ministers to stop sleeping in cabinet | Zambia president orders ministers to stop sleeping in cabinet |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |