Gov’t won’t backout, vows Kangwa

…declares that the position of government that the remains of former President Lungu should be repatriated for burial in Zambia has not changed, asks the family to consider the rights of government over the remains of the late former head of State

By BARNABAS ZULU

GOVERNMENT has maintained its position that late former President Edgar Lungu shall be accorded a State Funeral and will be buried at Embassy Park, the burial site for President, following the South African Constitutional Court rejecting a direct appeal by the family of the former head of State.
The government has also demanded that the family of former President Lungu should respect its position to claim rights to the mortal remains of the former head of State as much as it was willing to engage in negotiations.
Secretary to Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa announced in a statement yesterday that government was determined to reaching an agreement with the family of former President Lungu over his burial arrangements, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
Mr Kangwa said government had taken note of the decision by the South African Constitutional Court regarding the burial of the former Head of State and that its position on repatriating and burying of the former head of State in Zambia had not changed.
“The Government of the Republic of Zambia has taken note of the Constitutional Court of South Africa’s ruling concerning the burial of the Sixth President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. On behalf of the government, we want to thank the court for its timely consideration of the matter,” Mr Kangwa said.
He explained that while government respected the decision of the South African Constitutional Court, it still it was of a strong belief that dialogue with Dr Lungu’s family had remained essential.
“While the government respects the court’s decision, it remains committed to working with Dr Lungu’s family to reach an arrangement that takes into consideration their wishes and interests, but also taking into account the rights of government,” he said.
Mr Kangwa stressed that government’s position of according former President Lungu a decent and dignified State Funeral had not shifted, insisting that the former head of State shall be interred at Embassy Park because he deserved a befitting send-off.
“Our position is unchanged. The late President deserves a dignified funeral in keeping with the stature of his office,” he said.
He further thanked citizens for exercising restraint and called for continued unity as the nation mourns the former Head of State.
“We want to thank citizens for their understanding at this time and avoiding inflammatory comments. Now is the time for all of us to keep the Lungu family in our thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of the former President,” Mr Kangwa said