Lungu Family Appeal to SCA: Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu speaks at a podium, wearing a dark suit with a blue tie, while a uniformed guard stands in the background. Image: Tafadzwa Ufumeli/Anadolu Agency.
(ThePostNews)– The Lungu family has appealed to SCA following a recent High Court ruling. The court allowed the Zambian government to return the late former president’s body for a state funeral and burial. The family will present their appeal in Pretoria High Court on Friday.
Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s former president, died in Pretoria this June at 68 while receiving medical care. His death sparked a legal dispute between his family and the government about where he should be buried. The family insists that their personal and cultural reasons for burial in South Africa deserve respect. They emphasize the importance of honoring Lungu’s final wishes. Therefore, they opposed sending his body back to Zambia.
However, the Zambian government argues that a valid agreement permits the return of Lungu’s remains. The High Court ruled in the government’s favor, stating that the agreement is legally binding. Furthermore, the court found that the public interest outweighs the family’s wishes. The government says a state funeral in Zambia allows citizens to honor a former leader.
The Lungu family argues in their appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein that the full court misunderstood facts and law. They point to several legal and constitutional errors. If the SCA agrees to hear the case, it will proceed to a full hearing. Experts also say this case could affect future disputes about burying public figures. It highlights conflicts between family wishes and public interests. Therefore, the final ruling could set an important legal precedent.
Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021. His presidency involved economic reforms and political controversies. Since his death, the debate over his legacy and how former leaders should be honored has reignited.
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