A high court in Pretoria, South Africa, has ruled that the Zambian government can repatriate the body of former President Edgar Lungu and accord him a state funeral, despite fierce opposition from his family. The decision comes after weeks of legal wrangling following Lungu’s death in South Africa in June at the age of 68 from an undisclosed illness.
Lungu’s family had sought to bury him privately in South Africa, citing his personal wish that his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, should not attend his funeral. The ruling left the family visibly distraught, with his elder sister, Bertha Lungu, breaking down in tears in court. They have vowed to appeal against the entire judgment, meaning the former leader’s remains will remain in South Africa until the appeal is heard.
Judge Aubrey Ledwaba, delivering the verdict, declared that the Zambian government was “entitled to repatriate the body of the late president” and ordered the family to “immediately surrender” it to state authorities. The judge’s decision effectively affirmed the government’s position that Edgar Lungu, as a former head of state, “belongs to the nation” and should be given an official farewell.
Zambian Attorney General Mulilo D Kabesha welcomed the judgment, saying it was not about the government winning but about “what makes good sense.” He stressed that national leaders cannot be remembered solely within their immediate families but must be honored as figures of public significance. Kabesha also described the ruling as a “learning curve” for those aspiring to the presidency.
The dispute over Lungu’s burial arrangements stems from longstanding political tensions between him and President Hichilema, who defeated him by a large margin in the 2021 elections. Initially, both sides had agreed to a state funeral, but relations soured over the precise arrangements, prompting the family to opt for a private burial in South Africa instead.
Security concerns have now emerged, with reports that private security services have been deployed to guard Lungu’s remains at a Pretoria morgue following multiple attempts to remove the body without authorization. The case has sparked national debate in Zambia, with some calling for reconciliation between the state and the family in order to give the former president a dignified farewell.
Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, initially retired from politics after his electoral defeat but later made a political comeback. His death and the ensuing burial dispute have now turned into a politically charged and emotionally fraught matter that has captured attention both in Zambia and across the region.
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