Burial saga: Late ex-Zambian president’s family turns to Constitutional Court

By Mark Ogagan

Family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu have turned to the Constitutional Court in an urgent bid to appeal the Pretoria High Court judgment that found that the Zambian government is entitled to repatriate Lungu’s remains for the purposes of a State funeral and burial.

The family seeks to have the entire high court judgment set aside, and replaced with an order that dismisses the Zambian government’s application with costs.

Esther Lungu, the widow of former President Lungu, in an affidavit before the Constitutional Court states that the interests of justice demand an urgent direct appeal.

In addition, she adds that “no one may be compelled to bury their loved one in accordance with the dictates of a State”.

This application comes as the parties are said to be in discussions over the dispute which is set to return to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday.