We hope to bury ECL before elections, says Kabesha

We hope to bury ECL before elections, says Kabesha

By Adrian Mwanza

ATTORNEY General Mulilo Kabesha says he is optimistic that the Government and family of late former president Edgar Lungu will reach consensus to allow for his burial before the August 13 general elections.

In an interview with The Mast yesterday, Kabesha said Government had continued to engage the family in an effort to reach a lasting resolution ahead of the general elections.

He said although he was not directly involved in the discussions, Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa had been handling the matter and had made progress.

“That is the intention of the government that we bury the body of Dr Lungu before the August election,” he said.

Kabesha said the government was still making efforts to approach the family and to reach a compromise.

He said the Lungu family had once agreed with the government over the burial but later changed their position.

“This was after they accused the government of not being trusted,” he said.

Mr Kabesha said the family had been granted leave to appeal the judgement of the South African High Court, which ordered the repatriation of the body to Zambia and that the government was awaiting the grounds of appeal.

He remained hopeful that the matter could be resolved outside the courts to allow the former Head of State to be accorded a befitting send-off.

Mr Kabesha also said there was a need to distil the areas of disagreement into a Consent Order in order to reduce mistrust between the two parties.