A South African court has delayed preparations to bury former Zambian President Edgar Lungu in a private ceremony, just as it was about to begin.
The news was only conveyed to mourners in South Africa after a funeral liturgy had concluded.
This is the latest twist in a dispute between the government and Lungu’s family over his burial, after the family chose a private ceremony in South Africa over a full state funeral at home.
The Zambian government had launched an urgent action in the Pretoria High Court, attempting to prevent his family’s scheduled funeral.
The court stated that the funeral would not take place due to an “agreement between the parties”, but it appears that no funeral will take place until at least August.
The controversy stems from a long-standing enmity between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, with Lungu’s family claiming he told Hichilema not to attend his funeral.
Following Lungu’s death in South Africa at the age of 68, the family wanted to be in charge of the burial arrangements, including the repatriation of his body, but Zambian officials attempted to seize control.
The government and his family later agreed that he would have a state funeral, but disagreements over the details led the family to choose a burial in South Africa.
President Hichilema has now stated that as a previous president, Lungu “belongs to the nation of Zambia” and should be buried there.
The Pretoria court has given Zambian attorney general Mulilo D Kabesha until July 4 to submit his “amended notice of motion” in support of Lungu’s repatriation to Zambia.
His family have until July 11 to file their opposing papers. The court will hear the matter as a special motion on August 4, 2025, and the costs of the urgent application will be determined then.
The Zambian government argues that personal desires should not override the greater public interest.
However, the government proceeded to bury Kaunda in Embassy Memorial Park in Lusaka.
The ongoing debate over Lungu’s funeral highlights the acrimonious relationship between him and his successor, which began in life and continues even after death.
When Lungu was president, Hichilema was imprisoned for more than 100 days on treason charges after his motorcade allegedly failed to give way to him.
