The body of a 23-year-old student from Zambia who died while serving in the Russian army during the conflict in Ukraine has been brought back to his country.
The body of Lemekani Nyirenda, who was pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering in Russia before enlisting in the military arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka on Sunday, December 11,2022.
Lemekani, despite having been a student, was found guilty of drug trafficking in April 2020 and given a 9-year prison term.
Later, he received a special amnesty pardon in exchange for his participation in the war, but he died in action in Ukraine.
According to Zambiam Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo, in a statement, the government of Zambia has asked Russian authorities to provide information about Lemekani’s death.
“We were told that on August 23 he was conditionally pardoned and was allowed to participate in a special military operation in which he was killed in September.”
“We then demanded that officials provide details, not just of his recruitment.”
Zambians have voiced their sorrow at a young student being forced into the Russian military to take part in that nation’s conflict in Ukraine.
According to Stanley Kakubo, Zambia would make sure that this never occurs to any Zambian studying in Russia and that no other Zambians be detained in Russian prisons.
“The pain of losing a loved one in unclear circumstances is unbearable. How can Russia start recruiting our citizens studying on scholarship to fight their war? It’s definitely not right and our government should ensure they protect the lives of our citizens in Russia,” said Catherine Mwenya, a Lusaka resident.
According to Ian Banda, a spokesman for the family, the body will be brought to the mortuary at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, where starting on Monday, December 11, medical professionals will perform forensic pathology on it.
Ian Banda also said the funeral schedule will not be revealed until the pathology results are known.
Author-Roberta Appiah
