Government asks SA to accord Lungu military honours during repatriation
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has revealed that government will officially request that the late former President Edgar Lungu be accorded full military honours by the government of the South Africa upon the repatriation of his remains in that country on Wednesday.
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In a statement, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe said Zambia and South Africa share long standing relations and that the ongoing cooperation in the current circumstance is testament to the strength of the friendship between the two nations.
He further expressed gratitude to South Africa for the support it has rendered to the Zambian government, the bereaved family and mourners in the wake of the passing of Lungu.
Haimbe conveyed a message of special thanks from President Hakainde Hichilema to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for the hospitality and solidarity during the mourning time.
He commended the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa for their unwavering support and close collaboration with their Zambian counterparts.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation principal public relations officer Eva Chanda confirmed this in a statement.
“Separately, Hon. Haimbe conveyed condolences from President Hichilema to President Ramaphosa in light of the recent devastating floods that have led to the loss of lives and property in the Republic of South Africa,” read the statement…https://kalemba.news/politics/government-asks-sa-to-accord-lungu-military-honours-during-repatriation/
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, June 16, 2025
Does South Africa have to be asked about this? Given the fact that ECL is Zambia’s immediate former President, tha he died in South Africa with whom Zambia has had good relations and ECL helped further foster existing good relations between that country and ours, is it not to be expected that he will be accorded befitting military honours by South Africa?