South African court halts burial of Zambian ex-president mid-ceremony

JOHANNESBURG: A South African judge halted on Wednesday the burial of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu while the funeral service was underway, in an escalation of a standoff between his family and the government. Lungu, who died on Jun. 5 while seeking medical care in South Africa, was a rival of President Hakainde Hichilema, who wanted to lead a state funeral for his predecessor in Zambia. Lungu’s family opposed the plans and blocked his body from being repatriated, saying he would not have wanted Hichilema at his funeral.

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