A South African high court ruled on Friday that the remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu must be repatriated to Zambia. The court decision defied Lungu’s family, who wanted to bury him in South Africa, where he died on June 5 during specialized treatment. The family cited political tensions with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Lungu’s wish that Hichilema not attend the funeral.
In June, Zambia’s government filed an urgent court application to block the private funeral planned by Lungu’s family in Johannesburg. Gauteng Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba ruled in favor of Zambia, granting the state authority to arrange a state funeral.
“The applicant is entitled to repatriate the body for a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park in Lusaka, Zambia,” Ledwaba said. He emphasized that honoring a former president with a state funeral is a matter of public law and policy in Zambia.
The court stated personal wishes of the deceased or family cannot override the state’s right to hold a state funeral for a former leader. Lungu’s widow was seen weeping in court, comforted by family members after the ruling was announced.
Edgar Lungu, a lawyer turned politician, served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 until 2021 when he lost to Hichilema. He was the last surviving former Zambian head of state, marking the end of an era with his passing.