Lungu family hopes 'reason prevails' in ongoing dispute over former president’s remains

The family of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu says it hopes reason will prevail over ego in the ongoing dispute with the country’s government over Lungu’s remains.

The parties returned to court on Thursday, where the Zambian government wanted the court to reconsider its latest order, handed down last week.

The family approached the court last week to have the former statesman’s remains returned after the Zambian government collected Lungu’s body from the Two Mountains mortuary, which was chosen by the family.

But the court made a new order that Lungu’s remains would be taken to Avbob Mortuaries.

The order that was handed down on Thursday means that former Zambian president Edgar Lungu’s remains will be kept at Avbob in Pretoria East until the legal battle between his family and the Zambian government is resolved in the Supreme Court.

The family is still forging ahead with its bid to have Lungu buried in South Africa despite a High Court order that his remains should be repatriated to Zambia.

Family spokesperson Makebi Zulu said the family welcomes the latest court order.

Zulu said the family is particularly agrieved by a post-mortem that was conducted on Lungu’s body last week after the Zambian government managed to take the body.

He said the postmortem happened without the family’s consent or knowledge.

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