Zambia's ex-President Lungu will be buried in South Africa due to family's feud with Zambia

Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu volition beryllium buried successful South Africa alternatively of his homeland due to the fact that of a disagreement betwixt his household and Zambia’s authorities implicit his funeral

LUSAKA, Zambia -- Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu volition beryllium buried successful South Africa alternatively of his homeland due to the fact that of a disagreement betwixt his household and Zambia's authorities implicit his funeral.

Lungu died from an undisclosed illness astatine a infirmary successful South Africa aboriginal this period and the process to repatriate his assemblage for burial successful Zambia has been marred by a bitter feud betwixt his household and the existent Zambian government. It included the family's request that Lungu's governmental rival and existent President Hakainde Hichilema should not be his funeral.

The spokesperson and lawyer for the Lungu family, Makebi Zulu, said the determination to hide him successful South Africa is “in accordance with the family’s wishes for a backstage ceremony.”

“We would particularly similar to widen our sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for their respectful enactment and for honoring the family’s determination to clasp a backstage ceremonial and burial present successful South Africa,” Zulu said.

On Thursday, Hichilema, successful a televised code to the nation, canceled the 16-day nationalist mourning that helium had declared earlier.

“Our state cannot spend a authorities of indefinite mourning,” helium said. “We person done everything imaginable to prosecute the household of our departed sixth Republican President, and we person reached a constituent wherever a wide determination has to beryllium made.”

Hichilema besides apologized to the the South African authorities for the inconvenience.

Lungu, 68, had ruled the confederate African state from 2015 to 2021, erstwhile helium mislaid powerfulness to Hichilema. He remained an influential fig successful the Zambian authorities up of elections scheduled for adjacent year.

Lungu and Hichilema were bitter rivals. Their struggle culminated successful Hichilema's imprisonment successful 2017, erstwhile Lungu was president. Hichilema was accused of treason aft his motorcade failed to springiness mode to Lungu’s statesmanlike convoy.

Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema’s authorities of utilizing constabulary to harass him and restrict his movements. His household besides said the authorities had initially prevented him from traveling to South Africa for treatment, a complaint the authorities denied.

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