By Chinoyi Chipulu
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha says there will be no winner or loser today after the judgment on the burial impasse of late sixth Republican president Edgar Lungu who died on June 5, in South Africa.
And Kabesha said people were anxious to know the outcome of the court case whose judgment will be delivered in South Africa today.
He also urged Zambians to pray for Lungu’s family to heal.
The Pretoria High Court is expected to give its ruling today in the case on whether Lungu should be buried in South Africa or Zambia.
Lungu died in South Africa in June, but controversy ensued over when and how the body was to be brought back into the country and subsequently buried.
Lungu’s family refused to repatriate his remains and decided to bury him in South Africa where he died, following disputes with the governments on how his body was going to be handled.
After the family settled to bury his remains in South Africa, the government commenced legal proceedings in the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa against Lungu’s family from proceeding to bury the remains of the late former president in that country.
Kabesha submitted that no burial must take place until all disputes regarding Lungu’s final resting place were resolved.
Addressing journalists in Pretoria yesterday, Kabesha said whatever the outcome, people should continue respecting the late and should give him a dignified sendoff.
He said a dignified burial for a former head of state was being buried at the presidential burial site.
“Whatever happens, our concentration will be to give president Lungu a dignified send off. I don’t think there will be a winner and a loser, the court will just be giving us what is best and I believe the court has looked at the evidence on record and the court is equal to the task to look at what is the best for both parties,” he said
Kabesha said no matter the outcome, the late former president deserved a befitting send off.
Kabesha said the government desired that the former president should be buried at Embassy Park in Lusaka, where other presidents were laid to rest.
“I’m happy to let you know that we have gotten communication from the court that the matter has now been scheduled for judgment today. We are grateful and let’s keep our ears to the ground so that we can hear what the judgment will be. People are anxious to know the outcome,” Kabesha said.
He said the government would accept if the court decided otherwise and would take it as the best for Lungu’s family’s desire that he should be buried in South Africa.
“We look for the best for both parties and let us continue praying for one another and let us continue loving one another so that the matter comes to a closure. The Zambian arrangement is, when you bury someone then you come to a closure, other issues of course will follow, and there are issues that attach the person who has passed on how the family is looked after,” said Kabesha.
He urged people to pray for Lungu’s family so that they could heal.
