NATION REPORTER
GREEN Party president Peter Sinkamba says the family of late former President Edgar Lungu may, in the future, choose to exhume his body and rebury him in Zambia once the United Party for National Development (UPND) is out of power.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr Sinkamba said the ongoing burial standoff between the Lungu family and the UPND government revealed a deep and unresolved rift.
“It is evident that despite government sending several emissaries, the two parties have failed to reach a consensus.
The family has the final decision, and even today, they can choose to bring back Mr Lungu’s body for burial in Zambia,” he said. “Alternatively, they can bury him in South Africa and exhume him when UPND tumbles, no matter how long it takes, or even choose to keep his mortal remains in a foreign country forever.”
Mr Sinkamba emphasized that in the absence of a written will, the wishes of the family supersede those of the state.
“The law is very clear that if the deceased did not leave behind written instructions, the family decides. Government can only step in when both a will and a family are absent,” he said.
He added that he would be travelling to South Africa to attend the burial and pay his last respects to the late President, saying it was now up to the family to chart the path forward.
“As for me, tomorrow (today) I am travelling to South Africa to join others who have gone to escort our former head of State,” Mr Sinkamba said.
“But everything is in the hands of the family, which could still decide to bring him home when the political climate changes.”
