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Government takes control of Lungu's remains
The Zambian government has taken custody of former president Edgar Lungu's body, which has been in South Africa for nearly a year, defying the wishes of his family. The move escalates a prolonged dispute over his funeral arrangements.
Feud over burial site fuels conflict
Lungu's family had sought a private burial after negotiations with authorities collapsed. However, the government insists he should receive state honors and be interred alongside past presidents at Lusaka's official burial ground. The long-standing animosity between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, has intensified the standoff.
Court ruling paves way for repatriation
A South African court ruled last August that Zambia could repatriate Lungu's body for a state funeral. The family appealed but failed to advance their case, according to a statement from Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha. The body was transferred after the appeals process stalled.
Family disputes legal claims
In an interview with a Zambian YouTube news channel on Wednesday, Lungu family spokesman Makebi Zulu rejected the government's assertion that the appeal had lapsed. He maintained that proper legal procedures were followed. The family's lawyers have since filed an urgent application in a South African high court to return the body to its original funeral home in Pretoria.
Lungu's death and political legacy
Lungu, 68, died last June in a Pretoria clinic from an undisclosed illness. He governed Zambia from 2015 until 2021, when he suffered a landslide electoral defeat to Hichilema. Relations between the two leaders had been strained, with Lungu's family reportedly opposing Hichilema's attendance at the funeral.
Government stands firm on state funeral
Despite the family's objections, Zambian authorities remain committed to a state funeral with full honors, a position upheld by last year's South African court decision. The government has not commented on the family's latest legal challenge.
