South African Court of Rules that Zambia can repatrise the ex-president

South Africa’s court ruled that the Zambia government could return the body of former President Edgar Lung and give him a state funeral despite his family’s opposition.

The high court of Pretoria ruled in favor of the Zambian state, which had previously applied to block the family plans to bury it privately in South Africa, where he died in June.

At the time, Zambia’s lawyers claimed that personal wishes should not abolish great public interests.

The dispute stems from the long -standing hostility between Lung and his successor, President Hakanda Khichilem, with the Lung family, said he noted that Hicilya should not be present at his funeral.

Handing the ruling, Judge Ovtaba said Zambia’s government “has the right to reputate the deceased president’s body” and ordered his family to “surrender it immediately” by the authorities.

There were no orders for the urgent application.

After the death of Lung from an undisclosed illness at the age of 68, the family wanted to manage funeral arrangements, including repatriation of his body, but Zambia’s authorities sought to take control.

Later, the government and its family agreed with the state funeral before the relationship crashed over the exact agreements, which forced the family to choose a funeral in South Africa.