ZAMBIA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKS COURT APPROVAL TO INSPECT BODY OF FORMER PRESIDENT LUNGU IN SOUTH AFRICA
A controversial legal development is unfolding in South Africa as Zambia’s Attorney General has reportedly filed an application in the Pretoria High Court seeking permission to inspect the body of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. This move has sparked political and emotional tension, particularly among the late president’s family and supporters.
According to reports by CIC Media, a platform known to be aligned with Zambia’s ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), the Attorney General, acting on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema’s government, submitted the application as part of what is being described as an official inquiry or verification process.
The reasons behind the request for inspection have not been made fully public. However, sources suggest that the government may be seeking to verify certain forensic or legal matters relating to the late president’s death or identity. The application is said to be listed in the schedule of the Pretoria High Court.
President Lungu, who passed away under circumstances that have yet to be officially clarified, has been a figure of both reverence and controversy in Zambia’s recent political history. His death occurred in South Africa, where he had reportedly been receiving medical treatment.
The Lungu family has expressed strong opposition to the Zambian government’s involvement in any posthumous proceedings, citing the late president’s own wishes. A family spokesperson stated that President Lungu “did not want the current administration, particularly President Hichilema, involved in any way with his remains.”
“The family has made it clear that they are not in support of any attempt by the state to interfere with the dignity and peace of President Lungu’s final journey,” the spokesperson said.
Political analysts say the move could further deepen tensions between the ruling UPND and the Patriotic Front (PF), Lungu’s party, which has accused the current government of political persecution.
South African legal experts note that any such inspection would require judicial oversight, particularly if it involves the handling of human remains, and the High Court is expected to deliberate on the matter with caution.
At the time of writing, the Zambian government has not issued an official statement regarding the application, and the matter remains before the court.
This story continues to develop.
Some things from this government and it’s Attorney General are out of this world.
Where is this coming from now?
I thought we have passed this stage , and just waiting for the hearing on the leave for Appeal lodged in by the Lungu family scheduled for Friday.
And when will the Courts hear this useless application?
What are you hiding?Who saw Lungu `s body in South Africa?Lets be objective here.There is nothing wrong with that at this stage.Good move government thats a way to go forward.
White gloves and all,at work here!!!
Respectfully, One Hundred: before you jump to conclusions, this is being reported, we haven’t seen the document where the government has asked. Second, there should be a third party verification that it is Lungu. I don’t trust the family (I know you do), and I think this request can be professionally handled by the South African courts conducting a DNA test, viewing and reporting the results. In any case, what do you think will happen if the body is brought to Zambia. It will not allowed to travel without inspection of the coffin, etc.
Drug cartel leaders, are infamous, for pretending to be dead to avoid capture.
@Nkuku….in fact we have not passed this stage. The moment we will know it’s HIS BODY. WE WILL LET THE FAMILY DO WHAT IT WANTS WITH THE BODY. We tell to burry in Zambia at the place of there OWN WISH. EITHER NDOLA OR PETAUKE…..!!
That’s just the “corpse” nothing really there BUT WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO BE sabotaged by ECL family. If he was SHOT AS PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEN WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT!! There’s no smoke without fire.
@Nkuku, are you the reincarnation of HaaIndigo Tyrol, who has vanished in thin air of late? Certainly your impulsiveness and senselessness resembles HaaIndigo, am I wrong to guess you are brothers or close Cousins?
It is long overdue! You think that we are all stupid! You should know by now, if you were wise, that the South African government knows everything about this case, and they are sharing information with the Zambian government. These are systematic chase moves that will challenge Makebi.
By the way, have you heard your uncle, binoculars Nakachinda dancing in public, talking about poisoning of late? That should tell you something! No ushalimo akabamo.
The assumption, at this point, is that Lungu is not dead, until the verification process is done. Should the process turn negative, Makebi and the Lungu family shall be culpable and will dance pelete. We will say condolences, if positive.
It’s not useless Zambians need to know what is in the casket. And a DNA must be conducted to verify the body is truly for the late Lungu. Unless you and the family are hiding something.
This is long overdue honestly.It must have been the first thing to do.We always receive shocking information of death with disbelief so what happens is the desire to see the body develops.And action takes place.
Am waiting for Gunner’s Comment or even Chimbadaleka on this development…They are more measured in the way they look at issues.
This off course is not beyond our government and it’s Attorney General ‘s antics, but honestly this is taking things too far. Can any one really believe that Edgar Chagwa Lungu and family can fake his death? The man was ill, became frail and even his speech was affected.
With the Intelligence Agencies from both Zambia and South Africa, surely can Edgar Lungu really fake his death?
Let’s see what this application from Attorney General Kabesha is all about..and what he really wants to achieve from this latest misadventure.
To answer your question, “ Can any one really believe that Edgar Chagwa Lungu and family can fake his death?” – my answer is YES!
Correct process
Freemasonry at work. I can see people going mad when they do not succeed.
Total madness , first you declare 7 days of national mourning. Secondly you extend it and down the line you cancel the extension and then you ask the court to grant you permission to verify the death and the dead body. Ale Mona kwati ukuteke chalo chimo nokutekw ng’ombe kikikikiki. Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s death will torment them to their graves…tepano tuli , Wapya muzi badala. They tempered with a wrong spirit .
No one will be tormented, buddy! Trust, but verify! There are too many bad actors! PF over-reached and over-politicized this case for political mileage.
Watch the space Konto, the open grave at Embassy Park is calling. Kabesha now operates from South Africa and you think this is a joke.Why do you want to verify the person you disowned? Is this a case of a hired assassin and someone is saying we need to prove that you did the job before we can pay you ?
I did not disown Lingu, but his decisions brought the nation to the edge. Remember, decisions have consequences!
I don’t understand your analogy of an assassin in this context. However, suffice to mention that the government has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that its citizens are accounted for in any situation. Verification is another important form of ensuring that the country has lost a national.
Therefore, ba Nondo, be real, be serious! Remember, naïveté led to the colonization of Africa. I hope this helps explain my point.
PF politicising this case Konto ? To the contrary. You heard Chabinga’s audio clearing stating why this is happening. In Chabinga’s own words this is being done to “Uku Cleana Bakateeka” The more you want to clean Bakateeka the more messy Bakateeka is becoming kikikiki and the clock is fast ticking . Fili uko tuleya bane mwalikasa economy, mwakasa ama human rights,mwaleta na cyberlaw to oppress those with dissenting views mwabwela mwakasa nemfwa yakwa former President ? Muli mundoti bane kikikiki
Chabinga is PF, in case you have forgotten.
It’s just common sense the government has got the right to know who is being buried simple!!!!!
Why all this secrecy??,grow up mwe bantu kabesha is 1000000000++++%%% RIGHT!!!!!!.
Pf memory inono sana
Konto your argument is hollow and narrow. It is in common knowledge that UPND is sponsoring Chabinga. Who is paying for Chabinga’s policemen guarding him at his house ? Who is paying for Chabinga’s personal Body Guards ? Why hasn’t the Speaker declared Chabinga’s parliamentary seat vacant? How many PF Members of Parliament have lost their seat even when their appeal cases are still being heard in courts but Speaker proceeds to declare the seat vacant? Are we so daft or as cadres we suffer from severe blind loyalty that our hearts don’t even believe what our own moths are saying ? It is common knowledge that UPND used Miles Sampa first to destablise PF and when they realised that Miles Sampa cannot be trusted they resorted to Chabinga who is even worse than Miles Sampa because of his verbal diarrhoea . Yes we belong to and have different views and opinions about politics in Zambia which is our basic human right but let’s argue with facts. Don’t be like TIA and MUSONDA who if it is 10 am in the morning and HH says no it is 6PM in the evening they will believe because it is HH who has spoken and follow blindly kikikiki. Why are some Zambians declaring themselves dull and morally bankrupt by refusing to be objective ? What kind of minds do we possess as cadres ? Listen to MUSONDA very baseless , listen to TIA , very hollow and narrow. CONCERNED ZAMBIAN IN THE DIASPORA – LONDON UK