President Edgar Lungu has won a major legal battle over his burial after the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned an earlier High Court decision.
The appeal court ruled in favour of the family and dismissed the application that had sought to give the Zambian government authority over Lungu’s burial arrangements.
The court also ordered that costs be paid.The judgment means Lungu’s family can now proceed with plans to bury him in South Africa, in line with what they say were his final wishes.
The ruling has drawn attention across the region, with legal experts describing it as an important decision on the rights of families and the need to respect a deceased person’s wishes.
The dispute had sparked public debate in both Zambia and South Africa over who should have the final say in burial arrangements for former heads of state.
With the appeal now concluded, the family is expected to move forward with funeral preparations.
