Zambia Plans To Bury, Exhume And Rebury Kaunda At A Different Location
Zambia’s government reportedly plans to bury the country’s former president Kenneth Kaunda at a national memorial site and then exhume his body at a later date for reburial to comply with his wishes.
TimesLive reported sources close to the family as saying Kaunda had wanted to be buried at his farm next to his wife, Betty, but the government wants to temporarily bury the statesman’s remains at Embassy Park, an official national memorial site and presidential burial ground.
Kaunda’s grandchildren, writing on behalf of the family, have pleaded with President Edgar Lungu to reconsider the decision to bury the statesman at Embassy Park. The letter, dated June 23 2021, reads:
We, the undersigned, representing the collective view of the family, have taken into consideration the proposal to exhume Dr Kaunda’s remains from Embassy Park after the burial to be relocated at his residence as a compromise to the family’s request.
However, we find this proposal unnecessary as our gallant first president needs to rest in peace at his final resting place.
We therefore humbly request the government reconsiders its decision to bury him at Embassy Park and honour what was his only final wish, to be buried next to his dear wife at his residence.
One of Kaunda’s sons, Kaweche, confirmed knowledge of the request, saying Kaunda’s grandchildren were requesting that Lungu intervenes.
Writing on behalf of the family on 21 June, Kaunda’s eldest son, Panji, a retired army lieutenant-colonel, also urged the government to reconsider its preferred burial site. He wrote:
Following our discussion between the family and the state representatives, it was agreed that we, as the family, would provide guidance to the state regarding his burial wishes.
Therefore, the undersigned, children and grandchildren, sat to consider the government’s proposal to bury him at Embassy Park and feel grateful, but the family requests, with great humility, that the state considers his wish.
We propose the first president be accorded his last wish to be buried next to his wife, the late Mama Betty Mutinkhe Kaunda, on his farm.
Reports indicate that it was in response to this request that the government proposed as a compromise burying Kaunda at the national monument and exhume his body at a later date.
Kaunda’s funeral was held today (Friday) and his burial is set for next Wednesday.
