SA Court Orders Lungu’s Burial in Zambia, Leaving Family & Party Apologists Red-faced

The Post On Sunday

PRETORIA – A South African court has ruled that the body of Zambia’s former president, Edgar Lungu, must be repatriated for a state funeral in Lusaka, rejecting his family’s bid to bury him privately in South Africa.

Lungu, who died in June at the age of 68 after an undisclosed illness, had been living in South Africa. His family argued he wished to be buried there and opposed President Hakainde Hichilema’s attendance at his funeral, a reflection of the deep political rift between the two leaders.

But on Friday, Pretoria High Court judge Aubrey Ledwaba declared that the Zambian government was “entitled to repatriate the body of the late president” and ordered the family to “immediately surrender” it to authorities.

Visibly shaken, family members wept in court, with Lungu’s elder sister, Bertha, breaking down as the decision was read. The family’s legal team said they will appeal “the whole judgment and order,” meaning the remains will stay in South Africa until the case is concluded.

Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo D. Kabesha, welcomed the ruling, insisting it was not a victory for the state but “what makes good sense.”

“When you are the father of the nation, you cannot restrict yourself to your immediate family,” Kabesha said, praising the judgment as a lesson for those aspiring to high office.

The dispute stems from an initial agreement between the family and the government for a state funeral in Zambia. However, relations soured over funeral arrangements, prompting the family to opt for burial in Pretoria.

Security around Lungu’s remains has since been tightened at a Pretoria morgue, amid reports of attempts to remove the body without authorisation.

Lungu served as Zambia’s president from 2015 until 2021, when he was soundly defeated by Hichilema. He initially retired from politics before later re-entering the political scene.