The Zambian cabinet has extended the period of mourning for the late President of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa from the initial seven days to 21 days to allow the body to be taken to all provincial headquarters to nine provinces before burial, Vice President Rupiah Banda announced the funeral arrangements on Thursday evening in a statement posted on the State House website.
Banda said the decision was arrived at after a special cabinet meeting held in Lusaka Thursday.
He said the burial has been slated for September 3, 2008, which would have been the late 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 honor and a Presidential Salute. The body will thereafter be transported to Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) where it will lie-in-state," he said.
Banda further announced that between Monday, August 25 and Friday, August 29 2008, the body will be taken to provincial capitals.
He said the body would be brought back to Lusaka on August 29 from which date it will lie-in-state in MICC until September 2, 2008 when it would be taken to lie-in-state at State House until burial ceremony on Wednesday, September 3, 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.
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.
Source:Xinhua
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