A South African court has ruled that Zambia’s government may repatriate the body of former President Edgar Lungu and accord him a state funeral, overriding his family’s wishes for a private burial in South Africa.
Lungu, who died in June at the age of 68 from an undisclosed illness, had been in South Africa at the time of his death. His family, visibly distraught over the Pretoria High Court’s decision, has announced plans to appeal.
The Zambian government welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that while it mourns with Lungu’s family, the former president “belongs to the nation.” The dispute comes amid lingering tensions between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu’s family had maintained that the late president had wished for Hichilema not to attend his funeral.
Presiding judge Aubrey Ledwaba ruled that the Zambian government was “entitled to repatriate the body of the late president” and ordered the family to “immediately surrender” it to authorities.
After Lungu’s passing, the family sought to manage the funeral arrangements, including repatriation, but Zambian authorities asserted control. Initially, both parties had agreed on a state funeral, but disagreements over specific arrangements led the family to opt for burial in South Africa.
The court scene was marked by grief, with Lungu’s elder sister, Bertha Lungu, breaking down in tears. Zambian Attorney General Mulilo D. Kabesha described the ruling as a matter of “common sense,” stating, “When you are the father of the nation, you can’t restrict yourself to your immediate family.” He praised the court for making a “sound judgment,” while acknowledging the family’s right to appeal.
Pending the appeal, Lungu’s body will remain in South Africa under private security at a Pretoria morgue, following attempts to remove the remains without authorisation.
Edgar Lungu led Zambia from 2015 until his 2021 electoral defeat to Hichilema, after which he briefly stepped back from politics before returning to public life.