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| Edgar Lungu funeral row: South African court halts burial of Zambia's ex-president | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ex-Zambian president Edgar Lungu was due to be privately buried in South Africa | |
| A South African court has halted plans to bury former Zambian President Edgar Lungu at a private ceremony in South Africa just as the ceremony was due to start. | |
| 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 government had filed an urgent case in the Pretoria High Court seeking to stop the burial planned by his family. | |
| The court said that the funeral would not go ahead following an "agreement between the parties" however it appears that any funeral won't happen until August at the earliest. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The Pretoria court gave Zambian attorney general Mulilo D Kabesha until 4 July to submit his "amended notice of motion" in support of Lungu's repatriation to Zambia. His family has until 11 July to file their opposing papers. | |
| "This matter will be heard as a special motion on the 4th of August 2025," the court said. The costs of the urgent application will be determined then. | |
| The Zambian government 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 |