The family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu stopped his body from South Africa, accusing the government of violating key agreements for the funeral.
The arrangements have been completed, and his body will be sent home on a private charter plane on Wednesday by a private charter plane between uncertainty and the government.
But the family has now stopped the plan and said “it’s found it hard to believe that the government will stick to the end of the agreement”.
“Sadly, the deadly remains of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu will not return today,” Family spokesman Makebi Zulu said on Wednesday.
Mr Zulu said the government had issued a draft funeral, without consulting with the family.
President Hakainde Hichilema plans to receive the body upon arrival at the airport in Lusaka.
The body of the former president will be taken to his residence in Lusaka, which will be in the state before his state funeral on June 22 and buried the next day.
Mr Zulu said in his speech in South Africa on Wednesday that the government had deviated from the agreed plan.
“We hope that one day his body will be repatriated and buried,” Mr. Zulu was surrounded by members of Longu’s immediate family.
It remains open and is committed to “re-engagement in reaching a friendly resolution”, the government said in a statement.
It added: “The Government will continue to consult with the family, and please note the honor that our late former president is commensurate with his office and service.”
The delay marks the second time the family refuses to repatriate their bodies as tensions continue to grow between the government and government, who should control funeral arrangements.
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), which led to his death, supported the family’s position and accused the government of politicizing the mourning process.
Lungu, who led the country from 2015 to 2021, died earlier this month in South Africa and was treated for undisclosed illness.
Zambia currently has a 16-day national mourning period.
According to his family, the instructions he left behind were that his longtime rival President Hichilema “should not be near his body.”
But this is clearly resolved after a deal that allows Hichilema to preside over the state funeral next Sunday.
After six years as head of state, Lungu lost the election with a big profit in the 2021 general election.
After that failure, he stepped back from politics, but later returned to the battlefield.
He had the ambition to fight for the presidency again, but at the end of last year the Constitutional Court banned him from running, ruling that he had appointed up to two terms allowed by law.
Despite his disqualification in the presidential election, he still has a huge influence in Zambian politics and has not stopped his criticism of his successor.
Last year, Lungu complained about police harassment and accused authorities of effectively arresting him. He also said he was prevented from leaving the country. The government denies both charges.
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