Edgar Lungu’s family appeals body repatriation ruling
Edgar Lungu – Former President of Zambia
The family of the late former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, has taken legal steps to appeal a ruling by the Pretoria High Court which ordered that his remains be returned to Lusaka for burial.
On Friday, Gauteng Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba issued a judgment directing that Lungu’s body be repatriated to Zambia, where a state funeral is expected to be held. However, the Lungu family is now contesting this decision and has lodged an application for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).
Read also: Who gets to bury a president? The fight over Edgar Lungu’s remains
Edgar Lungu passed away in Johannesburg two months ago while undergoing medical treatment. Since then, a legal dispute has been ongoing between the Zambian government and the Lungu family over the handling of his remains.
In their court filings, the family argues that the High Court’s decision was flawed. They assert that the bench made an error in accepting the government’s version of a meeting held in June, during which it was claimed that an agreement had been reached to return the late president’s body to Zambia for burial.
The Lungu family disputes this alleged agreement, maintaining that the court overlooked key elements of what transpired during that meeting. They are now requesting that the matter be reconsidered by the SCA.
The High Court will decide whether to grant leave to appeal. If approved, the case will proceed to the appellate court, prolonging the legal proceedings surrounding the former leader’s final resting place.
