Zambia's government takes possession of ex-president's body in repatriation row

Zambia authorities and Edgar Lungu's family are in a dispute over where former leader's remains should be buried. Edgar Lungu: Zambia's government takes possession of ex-president body in repatriation row Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Edgar Lungu led Zambia for six years from 2015 A head and shoulders image of Edgar Lungu. His blue collar and dark jacket can just be seen at the bottom of the picture. Zambia's government takes possession of ex-president's body in repatriation row The Zambian government has said it has taken possession of the body of former president Edgar Lungu - who died in South Africa 10 months ago - against the wishes of the family. It is the latest episode in a row over what should happen to his remains following a long-standing feud between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema. The government has maintained that as a former head of state he should be honoured in the country and buried alongside his predecessors in the special presidential burial ground in the capital, Lusaka. But Lungu's family wanted a private burial after negotiations with the government over the funeral arrangements broke down. However, last August, a South African court ruled that Zambia's government could repatriate the body and give him a state funeral. a South African court ruled that Zambia's government could repatriate the body The family appealed against the decision but the body's transfer follows their "inability to proceed with their case" at the appeals court, a statement from Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha said. Interviewed on a Zambian YouTube news channel on Wednesday evening, Lungu family spokesman Makebi Zulu disputed that the appeals process had lapsed saying that the correct procedure had been followed. The family's lawyers have now made an urgent application to the high court in South Africa for the former president's body to be returned to the funeral home where it was originally being kept. Lungu died of an undisclosed illness last June, aged 68, at a clinic in South Africa's capital, Pretoria. He had led Zambia from 2015 until 2021, when he lost elections by a huge margin to Hichilema. The relationship between the two politicians had long been fraught, with Lungu's family saying the former president had not wanted Hichilema to attend his funeral. But the Zambian government wanted Lungu's remains to be repatriated and given a state funeral, with full state honours, which a South African court agreed to last year. A composite image showing the head and shoulders of Hakainde Hichilema and Edgar Lungu The presidential feud that even death couldn't end 'It's coming home' - the undignified row over the body of Zambia's ex-president A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Janet Taylor Easton, 67, died while taking part in a walking safari in Zambia, an inquest hears. These reports harm attempts to close the wide gender representation gap in Zambia, activists say. It is the latest twist over the fate of Lungu's body, which remains in a South African morgue since his death. The Pope gives a frank and passionate speech, the likes of which have characterised his tour of Africa. At 17, Rasheed Wasiu was detained as security forces cracked down on protests against police brutality. Allegations of a coup plot first surfaced last year when an Independence Day parade was cancelled. The Conflict Insights Group (CIG) says its research also shows the extent of UAE involvement. Fannie Masemola is accused of failing in his duties to provide proper oversight in his role.