The Pretoria High Court has issued an urgent interdict halting the private burial of Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu, who died on June 5 at age 68 in a Pretoria hospital.
The ruling, which came hours before the planned ceremony, has escalated a bitter dispute between Lungu’s family and the Zambian government, led by President Hakainde Hichilema, over the former president’s funeral arrangements.
Political tension
This decision has sparked political tension and public debate in Zambia. It ishighlighting issues of national protocol, family autonomy, and sovereignty.
Lungu, Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021, passed away while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, reportedly cancer. His death followed a contentious political career defined by rivalry with Hichilema.
Lungu’s will explicitly barred Hichilema from attending his funeral, setting the stage for conflict. The Zambian government planned a state funeral in Lusaka. Repatriation of Lungu’s body and burial were scheduled for June 23.
However, Lungu’s family, led by his widow Esther and daughter Tasila, insisted on a private burial in South Africa. They cited his wishes and alleged that the government deviated from agreed plans.
The Zambian government sought legal intervention, filing an urgent application with the Pretoria High Court.
Lungu ‘belongs to Zambia’
On June 25, 2025, the court granted the interdict. It ruled: “The application by the Republic of Zambia is granted. The respondents (Lungu’s family) are interdicted from proceeding with the burial of the late Edgar Chagwa Lungu in South Africa or elsewhere until the dispute is resolved.
“The matter is postponed to August 4, 2025, for further hearing, based on an agreement to pause proceedings pending resolution,” reads the judgement.
The court’s decision underscores the legal complexities of a former head of state’s funeral in a foreign jurisdiction. The government argued that Lungu “belongs to Zambia” and deserves a state funeral. It cited national protocol and the precedent of former President Kenneth Kaunda’s state-led burial.
The family, however, accused the government of politicising Lungu’s death. Family lawyer Makebi Zulu called the legal action “insensitive”.
Clear legal guidelines
Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa emphasised the need for Zambia to establish clear legal guidelines for such cases. Lungu’s supporters, including the Patriotic Front, accused Hichilema of exploiting the situation. They referenced past tensions like the 2024 dismissal of Constitutional Court judges who ruled in Lungu’s favour.
Civil society, including the Zambian Civil Liberties Union, urged dialogue to honour Lungu’s legacy and promote unity.
The standoff has disrupted Zambia’s mourning process, leaving the nation in limbo. The August 4 hearing will determine whether Lungu is buried in Zambia or South Africa.
Lungu’s presidency, marked by infrastructure growth and allegations of democratic erosion, remains divisive.
