ECL Burial: Govt writes to the LUNGU family
By Mwila Nsofu
Government says it is looking forward to an amicable and expeditious resolution on matters surrounding the burial of Former President EDGAR LUNGU before the court sits to rule on the matter.
Chief Government Spokesperson, CORNELIUS MWEETWA says the Attorney General through Lawyers in South Africa has written to Mr. LUNGU’s family with a view to have the matter settled outside court.
Mr. MWEETWA says this is in the interest of many Zambians who want to bid farewell to the Former President.
Mr. MWEETWA who is also Information and Media Minister was speaking on “Face the Nation”, a Current Affairs programme on SABC.
Attorney General MULILO KABESHA through Lawyers in South Africa filed a public interest litigation opposing the burial of the former President in South Africa.
The court has since directed Mr. KABESHA to formally file an application on or before July 3, 2025, seeking the repatriation of President LUNGU’s remains.
The LUNGU Family has been given up to July 4, 2025 to file their response.
The court has set July 18, 2025 as the date for the hearing of the application.
©ZNBC
What I see currently is a weak opposition which is failing to take advantage of a seemingly not so well-organized ruling party. If you critically look at UPND now, it seems all the people around HH have gone on leave or mute and have left him to do the buildup to the campaign on his own. just look at what is happening in UPND, HH is almost on his own very few if any in his party are flowing in the same direction as himself but what seems to solidify this theory is that even he himself seems to take any credit by his government to himself as a person as a kalombwana who is doing kwenyu.
This is in accordance to the suggestion and advice from the Judge in South African courts presiding over the case. If you read carefully between the lines, the judge said after the initial ruling to stop the burial of former Pres. ECL said that he hoped both parties will come to an amicable solution before submissions so that the burial can take place in Zambia and give the late ECL a befitting send off. That’s why the Government have again reached out to the Lungu family before July 3rd submissions are done to try and reach a conclusion to the matter out of court as evidently suggested by the courts in South Africa. The Lungu family have up until July 4th do their own submission before they face the court again on July 18th. So it is in the best interest of the Lungu family to take advantage of this olive branch from the government to solve the problem. After which I believe there will not be a need to wait until July 18 for the courts to make a ruling or judgment of some kind.
The govt is not weak neither is the UPND party. They are simply a listening govt trying to work things out with the Lungu family so the former head of state can be buried finish and klaa..!
It’s up to them( the Lungu family to act very quickly) to do the right thing.
@samlindo just wait and see how this unfolds but do not mistake goodwill for weakness. I’m sure everyone’s hope is that this matter is dealt with expeditiously but also with honor and dignity.