Cabinet has extended the period of mourning for the late President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa from the initial seven days to 21 days.
This is to facilitate a smooth transportation of the body from Paris to Lusaka, Zambia and the taking of the body to all provincial headquarters to nine provinces before burial takes place.
Vice President, Rupiah Banda announced the funeral arrangements this evening in a statement posted on the State House website.
Mr. Banda said the decision was arrived at after a Special Cabinet meeting held at Government House in Lusaka today.
He said the burial has been slated for September 3rd, 2008, which would have been the late Dr. Mwanawasa’s 60th birthday.
“I wish to advise the nation that upon the body’s arrival at Lusaka International Airport, there will be a Guard of Honour and a Presidential Salute. The body will thereafter be transported to Mulungushi International Conference Centre where it will lie-in-state,” he said.
Mr. Banda further announced that between Monday, August 25th and Friday, August 29th 2008, the body will be taken to provincial capitals.
He said the body would be brought back to Lusaka on August 29th from which date it will lie-in-state and MICC until 2nd September, 2008 when it would be taken to lie-in-state at State House until burial ceremony on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008.
“Close relatives, of the first family will gather at the residence in State House. Members of the public will gather at the Lusaka Show Grounds during the period of mourning,” he said.
Mr. Banda said those wishing to pay their last respects to the late President would do so at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre and in the provinces.
Dr. Mwanawasa died at Percy Military Hospital in Paris France, 15 days before he could turn 60 years of age.
He fell ill on June 29, this year while attending an African Union (AU) heads of state and government summit in Egypt.
The late President was elected as Zambia’s third republican President in December 2001 under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) ticket and re-elected in 2006 for the second five year term of office.
He leaves behind a wife, Maureen and six children.
ZANIS/KSH/ENDS.