Latest news with #Hichilema
The Star
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Diplomatic tensions mount as Zambia and Lungu's family clash over burial in South Africa
Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu's death has triggered a bitter dispute between his family and the Zambian government led by President Hakainde Hichilema. Image: File A diplomatic and legal impasse over the burial of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has sparked tensions between Lusaka and Pretoria, exposing deep political rifts and challenging cross-border legal norms. On Wednesday, moments before a private burial ceremony was set to begin at Johannesburg's Cathedral of Christ the King, the High Court in Pretoria issued an emergency order halting the proceedings. The decision followed a petition filed by Zambian Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, who argued that Lungu, as a former head of state, must be accorded a full state funeral in Zambia. Lungu, 68, died earlier this month in South Africa while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. His death has since triggered a bitter dispute between his family and the Zambian government led by President Hakainde Hichilema. At the heart of the standoff is a fundamental disagreement: Lungu's family insists that one of his final wishes was to be buried privately, away from the political theatre of Lusaka, and without the involvement of his successor and long-time rival, Hichilema. In contrast, the Zambian government maintains that, as a former president, Lungu must be buried on Zambian soil with full military honours — and with the current head of state presiding. While the Zambian state prepared for a formal reception of Lungu's remains in Lusaka, complete with military honours and a public funeral, the family quietly made arrangements for a private burial in South Africa. The Pretoria court's ruling has now placed the funeral in limbo, pending a full hearing scheduled for August 4. South African officials have found themselves caught in the middle of the high-stakes diplomatic and legal standoff. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has declined to comment publicly but confirmed it is engaging both parties to ensure compliance with South African law. 'We recognise the sensitive nature of this matter,' a DIRCO spokesperson said. 'We are working closely with the Zambian authorities and the family to support a peaceful resolution.' Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe addressed the issue during a live interview in South Africa, calling for cooler heads to prevail. 'This situation is regrettable,' Haimbe said. 'We must honour our former president with dignity, but also uphold the rule of law and the unity of our nation.' Observers say the dispute is as much about legacy as it is about politics. Lungu and Hichilema's acrimonious relationship dates back years. After losing the 2016 presidential election to Lungu, Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason — a move widely viewed as politically motivated. After defeating Lungu in the 2021 polls, Hichilema accused his predecessor of corruption and abuse of power, deepening their political enmity. Lungu's body remains in South Africa, a symbol of unresolved wounds in Zambia's democratic journey.
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Zambia launches 100 megawatt solar plant supplying First Quantum Minerals
LUSAKA, June 30 (Reuters) - Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema on Monday opened the country's biggest grid-connected solar power plant, built by PowerChina, which will supply electricity to copper miner First Quantum Minerals ( opens new tab. The 100 megawatt Chisamba project is expected to reduce the Southern African country's reliance on electricity imports from neighbours South Africa and Mozambique. It will free up capacity for Zambian consumers that would have otherwise been used by First Quantum Minerals. Zambia depends on hydropower for the bulk of its electricity generation needs, and low water levels because of a severe drought have forced state utility Zesco to ration electricity. Hichilema said at a launch event that the drought highlighted the need to urgently diversify the power mix. There are plans to add another 100 MW of capacity at the Chisamba site, although a timeframe for the expansion has not been laid out.
25-06-2025
- Politics
Zambian government tries to stop a former president's funeral taking place in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG -- The Zambian government filed court papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa on Wednesday. A hearing took place around an hour before his funeral service was meant to begin. The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home — something Lungu's family have refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. Members of Lungu's family, who were dressed in black for the funeral, traveled to a courthouse in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, for the hearing that would decide if he could be buried. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling. Lungu, who was Zambia's leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details of the burial. His family and lawyers said he left specific instructions that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, while the Zambian government said Hichilema was due to preside over the state funeral. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha filed papers in a South African court Tuesday seeking an urgent injunction to stop Wednesday's funeral, according to Zambia's national broadcaster ZNBC. The court papers demand that the former president be buried in Zambia with full military honors, as mandated by Zambian law and in keeping with the public interest, ZNBC reported. Lungu's funeral service was due to take place at a church in Johannesburg, around 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Pretoria. Lungu would then be buried in a private ceremony, according to his family. Lungu and Hichilema had a long history of political enmity in the southern African country. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 presidential election, and his government imprisoned Hichilema for four months in 2017 on charges of treason because his convoy didn't give way to the president's motorcade on a road. The move to imprison Hichilema was widely criticized by the international community and Hichilema was released and the charges dropped. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a 2021 vote. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using the police to restrict his movements and effectively place him under house arrest. The government denied the accusations. ___ Zimba reported from Lusaka, Zambia. ___
Arab Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Zambian government tries to stop former president's funeral taking place in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, June 24, (AP): The Zambian government filed court papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa on Wednesday. A hearing took place around an hour before his funeral service was meant to begin. The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home - something Lungu's family have refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. Members of Lungu's family, who were dressed in black for the funeral, traveled to a courthouse in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, for the hearing that would decide if he could be buried. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling. Lungu, who was Zambia's leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details of the burial. His family and lawyers said he left specific instructions that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, while the Zambian government said Hichilema was due to preside over the state funeral. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha filed papers in a South African court Tuesday seeking an urgent injunction to stop Wednesday's funeral, according to Zambia's national broadcaster ZNBC. The court papers demand that the former president be buried in Zambia with full military honors, as mandated by Zambian law and in keeping with the public interest, ZNBC reported. Lungu's funeral service was due to take place at a church in Johannesburg, around 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Pretoria. Lungu would then be buried in a private ceremony, according to his family. Lungu and Hichilema had a long history of political enmity in the southern African country. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 presidential election, and his government imprisoned Hichilema for four months in 2017 on charges of treason because his convoy didn't give way to the president's motorcade on a road. The move to imprison Hichilema was widely criticized by the international community and Hichilema was released and the charges dropped. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a 2021 vote.
Hamilton Spectator
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Zambian government tries to stop a former president's funeral taking place in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Zambian government filed court papers seeking to stop the private burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa on Wednesday. A hearing took place around an hour before his funeral service was meant to begin. The Zambian government wants Lungu to have a state funeral at home — something Lungu's family have refused to allow because of his bitter political feud with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema . Members of Lungu's family, who were dressed in black for the funeral, traveled to a courthouse in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria, for the hearing that would decide if he could be buried. It was not clear when a judge would issue a ruling. Lungu, who was Zambia's leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. A state funeral for him in Zambia was canceled twice because of disagreements over the details of the burial . His family and lawyers said he left specific instructions that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, while the Zambian government said Hichilema was due to preside over the state funeral. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha filed papers in a South African court Tuesday seeking an urgent injunction to stop Wednesday's funeral, according to Zambia's national broadcaster ZNBC. The court papers demand that the former president be buried in Zambia with full military honors, as mandated by Zambian law and in keeping with the public interest, ZNBC reported. Lungu's funeral service was due to take place at a church in Johannesburg, around 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Pretoria. Lungu would then be buried in a private ceremony, according to his family. Lungu and Hichilema had a long history of political enmity in the southern African country. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 presidential election, and his government imprisoned Hichilema for four months in 2017 on charges of treason because his convoy didn't give way to the president's motorcade on a road. The move to imprison Hichilema was widely criticized by the international community and Hichilema was released and the charges dropped. Hichilema defeated Lungu in a 2021 vote. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using the police to restrict his movements and effectively place him under house arrest. The government denied the accusations. ___ Zimba reported from Lusaka, Zambia. ___ AP Africa news: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
