Attorney-General Kabesha welcomes South African court ruling, urges Lungu family to remain calm

Attorney-General, Mulilo Kabesha, has welcomed the South Gauteng High Court’s ruling in favour of the Zambian government to repatriate the body of the late sixth Republican President, Edgar Lungu, for burial at Embassy Park in Lusaka.

Speaking in South Africa shortly after the landmark judgment on Friday, Kabesha appealed to the Lungu family to remain calm during this difficult period.

“I know this is an emotional moment for the family. They should be allowed to mourn, but they should calm down so the country can mourn with dignity,” he said.

Kabesha expressed satisfaction that the tradition of laying to rest both former and serving Heads of State at the official burial site would be upheld.

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While he did not provide details of the process for repatriation and burial, Kabesha said Cabinet would give guidance on the matter.

In its ruling on Friday, the court ordered the mortuary holding the former president’s remains to immediately release the body to officials representing the Zambian government.

The court further directed that the late Head of State be repatriated and interred at Embassy Park.

The judgment triggered emotional scenes in the courtroom, with Lungu’s immediate elder sister, Bertha Lungu, breaking down in tears as she left the Pretoria High Court after the order to release her younger brother’s remains to President Hakainde Hichilema’s government.

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