Pretoria’s High Court has rejected an appeal by the family of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, confirming that his remains must be returned to Zambia for burial. Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 until 2021, died in June at the age of 68 while receiving treatment in a South African hospital. Since his death, his body has remained in a Johannesburg morgue as his family sought to secure permission for burial in South Africa. His relatives argued that laying him to rest outside Zambia would prevent his political rival, President Hakainde Hichilema, from attending or presiding over the funeral. Lungu and Hichilema had a tense political relationship marked by disputes over governance and elections.
Last month, the South African court ruled that Zambia’s government, as the state, holds the authority to decide on the burial of a former head of state. The family’s subsequent appeal was dismissed this week, clearing the way for his remains to be repatriated. The Zambian government has not yet announced an official burial date, but preparations are underway for a state funeral. Lungu’s death closes a significant chapter in Zambia’s political history. His presidency was defined by infrastructure development and economic challenges, alongside increasing political polarization. His passing has stirred fresh debates about leadership, legacy, and the treatment of former presidents in Zambia.
