The late former Zambian President Rupiah Banda will be given a state funeral.

He passed away last Friday after battling colon cancer.

Banda will be laid to rest on Friday, March 18th at the Presidential Burial site in Lusaka.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has since declared 7 days of mourning to honor the late leader.

Hichilema has also confirmed that his predecessor Edgar Lungu is going to attend the funeral.

He also visited the Banda family where he appealed to them not to deviate from the values Banda stood for.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also conveyed South Africa’s condolences. Banda was the Zambian President from 2008 to 2011.