The saga surrounding the remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has taken another chaotic turn, as a South African court reversed course and ordered the Zambian government to return the body just hours after it had been formally transferred.
This latest legal intervention marks a new chapter in a 10-month dispute between Lungu’s family and the administration of President Hakainde Hichilema. The Zambian government has insisted on a state funeral at the official presidential burial site in Lusaka, citing Lungu’s status as a former head of state.
Conversely, the Lungu family has fought for a private burial, citing the former president’s explicit wishes to keep his successor, Hichilema, away from his remains. The situation reached a boiling point when the South African High Court initially allowed the repatriation, only to issue a stay of execution on the transfer until a new hearing on May 21.
Adding to the logistical nightmare, the funeral home originally housing the remains, Two Mountains Burial Services, has reportedly refused to continue storing the body, forcing the family to seek alternative arrangements.
This public dispute follows years of intense political rivalry between Lungu, who led the nation from 2015 to 2021, and Hichilema, his successor. As the legal battle drags on, the confusion surrounding the funeral arrangements continues to highlight the deep-seated divisions that defined Lungu’s final years in power.
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