A South African court has ruled that the Zambian government has the right to repatriate the body of former President Edgar Lungu, despite opposition from his family. The ruling, issued by the Pretoria High Court, grants the Zambian state authority over funeral arrangements, including a state funeral for Lungu, who passed away in June in South Africa.
Lungu’s family had hoped to bury him privately in South Africa, expressing their distress after the court’s decision. They were particularly upset by the ruling, as they claimed that Lungu had wished for his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, not to attend his funeral, reflecting the ongoing tensions between the two political figures.
Judge Aubrey Ledwaba, delivering the judgment, stated that the Zambian government was entitled to repatriate Lungu’s body and ordered his family to “immediately surrender” it to authorities. Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, had previously agreed to a state funeral, but disagreements over the specifics of the arrangements led to the family’s preference for a private burial.
The ruling further intensifies the already strained relationship between Lungu and Hichilema, with Lungu’s family seeking control over the funeral proceedings. Bertha Lungu, the former president’s elder sister, was seen in tears after the judgment was delivered.
Zambian Attorney General Mulilo D Kabesha remarked that the ruling was not a “win” for the government but a matter of “what makes good sense,” emphasizing that Lungu, as a former leader, “belongs to the nation.” It remains uncertain whether Lungu’s family will appeal the decision.
Lungu’s presidency ended in 2021 when he lost the election to Hichilema, and although he stepped back from politics, he later re-emerged in public life.