Dispute Over Former Zambian President’s Burial Location Reaches South African Appeals Court
In a legal battle that underscores deep-seated political rivalries, a South African appeals court is deliberating on whether the body of Zambia’s former president, Edgar Lungu, should be returned to Zambia for a state funeral or buried in South Africa, nearly a year after he passed away.
Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 until 2021, died of an undisclosed illness at a South African hospital on June 5, 2025, at the age of 68. His burial has been delayed due to a contentious dispute between his family and the current Zambian president, Hakainde Hichilema.
President Hichilema is advocating for Lungu’s body to be returned to Zambia for a state funeral, following a ruling in August by the Pretoria High Court that supported repatriation of the remains. However, the family of Lungu has expressed a desire to bury him in South Africa, contesting any involvement of Hichilema in the proceedings.
During the appeal hearing in Bloemfontein, legal representative for the family, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, argued against the Zambian government’s insistence on a state burial, highlighting that Lungu’s presidential benefits were rescinded before his death. Ngcukaitobi emphasized that the widow’s wishes should be prioritized when determining burial arrangements.
Contrastingly, Ben Stoop, representing the Zambian government, pointed out that there was a prior consensus between the family and the government allowing Hichilema to attend the funeral and greet dignitaries, which the family later opposed.
The judges involved in the case questioned the absence of any documented evidence indicating Lungu’s preference to be buried in South Africa, despite his apparent reluctance for his successor to oversee his funeral.
A decision from the court is pending, as the justices have not announced when a ruling will be made.
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