Ramaphosa called out over silence on Edgar Lungu’s burial controversy

CIVIL organisations have questioned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s silence regarding the controversy surrounding the burial of late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

The organisations under the banner Progressive Forces For South Africa that include, The South African Concerned Citizens Association, March and March and Reakga Community Project among others laid their concerns bare during a press briefing in Midrand yesterday.

A dispute has erupted between the Zambian government and Lungu’s family over whether he should be buried in South Africa or repatriated to Zambia for a state funeral.

Lungu died last month in South Africa and his remains have become the centre of a dispute.

In the Pretoria High Court, the Zambian government filed an urgent application to prevent Lungu’s burial in South Africa.

They argued that as a former president, Lungu “belongs to the nation of Zambia” and should be interred there. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema underscored this point, drawing a parallel to the precedent of founding President Kenneth Kaunda’s burial in Zambia, which occurred despite his family’s desires.