MBABANE:The Constitutional Court has refused the family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s urgent bid, to directly appeal the judgment of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) reported on Tuesday.
“It had found that the Zambian government are entitled to repatriate Lungu’s remains for the purpose of a state funeral and burial.The Constitutional Court has found that no case has been made out for a direct appeal. The family turned to the apex court in a bid to have the entire High Court judgment set aside and replaced with an order that dismisses the Zambian government’s application with costs”, the SABC reported.
But earlier this month, Esther Lungu, the widow of former President Lungu, in an affidavit before the Constitutional Court stated that the interests of justice demand an urgent direct appeal.
In addition, she added that “no one may be compelled to bury their loved one in accordance with the dictates of the State.
[File SABC Image] Former Zambia's President Edgar Chagwa Lungu addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, US, September 25, 2019.