Court Suspends Funeral Plans for Ex-Zambian President Edgar Lungu.
High Court Halts Funeral Plans for Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu in South Africa Amid Family-Government Dispute
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has unexpectedly suspended the burial arrangements for former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, which were scheduled to take place on Wednesday, just moments before the private ceremony was about to begin.
This ruling represents a notable turn in the ongoing conflict between Lungu’s family and the Zambian government concerning his final resting place.
Lungu passed away at the age of 68 in a South African hospital on June 5, 2025. His family expressed a desire to partake in the funeral preparations, including the repatriation of his remains. Conversely, the Zambian government sought full control over all aspects of the funeral arrangements. As they felt sidelined from these plans, Lungu’s family began redirecting their efforts toward organizing a burial in South Africa, leading to tensions with government officials.
Compounding their distress, reports indicate that two of Lungu’s children were allegedly prohibited from leaving Zambia to attend their father’s memorial service in South Africa. Family representatives described this travel ban as an instance of “deliberate cruelty” by the administration.
Additionally, it has been claimed that government officials attempted to repatriate Lungu’s body to Zambia without obtaining consent from his family.
In light of these developments, Zambian officials submitted an urgent court application on Tuesday seeking to prevent the planned private ceremony, asserting that national interests should take precedence over personal desires.
Following discussions between legal representatives, Deputy Judge President Aubrey Phago Ledwaba ruled against proceeding with the burial as scheduled.
“If any party wishes to intervene in this application, they are required to file their notice of motion and foundational or answering affidavit by July 18, 2025. Those wishing to be joined as amicus curiae (friends of the court) must submit their notice of motion by July 18,” he stated.
To adhere to the court’s instructions, the Zambian government has been ordered to provide an amended notice along with a supplementary affidavit regarding the repatriation of Lungu’s remains by July 4, 2025.
Meanwhile, Lungu’s family is expected to submit their opposing affidavits before July 11, 2025.
This ruling has postponed the funeral by more than a month; it is now set for hearing on August 4, 2025.
Despite these legal challenges, the court has allowed Lungu’s family access to visit his body at the mortuary while proceedings continue.
