Zambia Takes Legal Action to Halt Former President Lungu’s Burial in South Africa

Zambia Takes Legal Action to Halt Former President Lungu’s Burial in South Africa – The Zambian government has filed an urgent application in a South African court in an attempt to block the burial of the late former President Edgar Lungu, amid a growing dispute with his family over funeral arrangements.

According to Zambia’s state broadcaster ZNBC, the Attorney General Mulilo D. Kabesha is seeking an interdict to stop the burial—scheduled for Wednesday—pending the resolution of the dispute.

This marks a significant escalation in the standoff between the state and the Lungu family, who have insisted on conducting a private burial in South Africa, where the former leader passed away.

The legal application lists several respondents, including former First Lady Esther Lungu, the couple’s four children, the family’s lawyer Makebi Zulu, and the funeral parlour currently housing the late president’s remains.

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At the heart of the controversy is a long-standing political rift between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, which appears to have outlived Lungu himself. In his will, Lungu reportedly requested that Hichilema not attend his funeral. The family further demanded control over all funeral logistics, including repatriation of the body—actions the government contests as contrary to public interest.

The government had initially agreed to accord Lungu a state funeral, complete with military honours. However, relations deteriorated over disagreements on how the ceremony should be conducted, prompting the family to abandon plans for a state-led burial and proceed with arrangements in South Africa.

Attorney General Kabesha argues in court papers that, as a former head of state, Lungu belongs to the nation and should be buried in Zambia with the dignity and honour befitting a national figure. He referenced the 2021 case of founding President Kenneth Kaunda, whose family also objected to the official burial site, but whose remains were nonetheless interred at Embassy Memorial Park in Lusaka by government directive.

This legal battle underscores the strained legacy of Edgar Lungu’s presidency, particularly his fraught relationship with Hichilema—once jailed for treason under Lungu’s administration. The outcome of the court case will likely set a significant precedent for how Zambia handles the funerals of former national leaders going forward.