A South African high court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal by the family of late Zambian president Edgar Lungu seeking to block the repatriation of his remains for a state funeral in Lusaka.
The family had contested an earlier ruling granting the Zambian government authority to return the body home, arguing that South African law should have applied rather than Zambian law. They also cited political tensions with President Hakainde Hichilema, insisting Lungu should be buried in Johannesburg.
The court said there were “no reasonable prospects of success” for further appeal and ordered the family to pay costs. Judges ruled that under Zambian law, a former president’s wishes or those of his family cannot outweigh the state’s right to accord an official burial.
Lungu, 68, died on June 5 while receiving medical treatment in South Africa. Previous applications to South Africa’s Constitutional Court were also dismissed. Legal experts said the government of Zambia could now begin the repatriation process.