PLANS FOR PRESIDENT MWANAWASA'S BURIAL ANNOUNCED

UNCLAS LUSAKA 000851 DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/S, AF/PD; LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ZA SUBJECT: PLANS FOR PRESIDENT MWANAWASA'S BURIAL ANNOUNCED REF: A. LUSAKA 850 ¶B. LUSAKA 847 ¶C. LUSAKA 838 ¶1. The body of late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa arrived aboard a French presidential plane on Saturday, August 23, and laid in state at the Mulungushi Conference Center until the morning of Monday, August 25. The body is now being flown on a tour of provincial capitals to allow the population to pay its respects before returning to Lusaka on Friday, August 29. After lying in repose at the Mulungushi Conference Center over the weekend of August 29 - September 1, the body will be transported to State House on Tuesday, September 2 to lie in state and in preparation for the state funeral and burial ceremony on September 3. ¶2. The GRZ has distributed a schedule for the September 3 burial of the late President (text of GRZ schedule below), but details are subject to change. If the lack of planning and chaotic execution evident in the August 23 airport arrival ceremony attended by Charge is any indication, the September 3 ceremonies will be characterized by scheduling and protocol mishaps. ¶3. Following is the text of the GRZ schedule for the burial ceremony of the late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa: Begin text: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 Burial Ceremony 07.30 hours - Guard of Honour arrives at Parliament Buildings 08.00-09.00 Hours - Arrival of all other Mourners 09.00-0910 Hours - Arrival of Chiefs, Religious and Civic Leaders 09.15 Hours - Arrival of Service Chiefs 09.30 Hours - Arrival of Senior Government Officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of NEC, leaders of other Political Parties, Deputy Ministers and Cabinet Ministers 09.35 - Arrival of the Speaker, the Chief Justice and Former Presidents 09.40 - Arrival of His Honour the Vice President 09.45 - 10.15 Hours - Arrival of Foreign Heads of State and Government at Parliament Buildings 10.15 Hours - The Body of the Late Zambian President, His Excellency Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa SC departs State House for Parliament Buildings 10.30 Hours - Arrival of the Body 10.30-12.00 Hours - Church Service (To Follow the Church Service Programme) 12.15 Hours - The Body of The Late President departs Parliament for the Supreme Court 12.30 Hours - Arrival of the Body at the Supreme Court 12.30-13.00 Hours - Combined Valedictory Session of the Supreme Court and the High Court 13.05 Hours - The Body of the Late President departs Supreme Court and the High Court 14.00 Hours - Arrival of the Body at Palabana Farm (TO FOLLOW BURIAL PROGRAMME) 17.00 Hours - End of Burial 17.15 Hours - Mourners depart the Burial Site for their respective homes End Text. ¶4. Post has secured 30 hotel rooms for the nights of September 2 and 3 (including rooms blocked by the DAO for a possible Milair flight crew). An additional 34 bedrooms are available in unoccupied embassy housing (including the four bedrooms in Ambassador,s residence (EMR),the two bedrooms in the EMR guest house and three additional bedrooms at a house directly across the street from the EMR. KOPLOVSKY