The family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has secured a major legal victory after a South African appeals court ruled that they have the right to decide where the late leader will be buried.
The ruling, delivered by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal, overturns an earlier decision that had allowed the Zambian government to repatriate Lungu’s remains for a state burial in Lusaka. The judgment marks the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between Lungu’s family and the Zambian authorities over his final resting place.
Court Sides With Lungu Family
The appeals court concluded that the wishes and rights of the deceased’s family take precedence over the Zambian government’s efforts to take custody of the former president’s remains. The decision effectively clears the way for the family to proceed with plans to bury Lungu in South Africa, where he died in June 2025 while receiving medical treatment.
The case had attracted significant attention across Africa, with legal and political observers closely monitoring the battle between the family and the government.
Burial Dispute Rooted in Political Tensions
The disagreement over Lungu’s burial has been linked to his strained relationship with Zambia’s current president, Hakainde Hichilema. According to family members, Lungu had expressed a desire that Hichilema should not play any role in his funeral arrangements.
As a result, the family opposed government plans for a state funeral and burial at Zambia’s designated presidential burial site. Instead, they insisted on a private burial in South Africa in line with what they described as the former president’s wishes.
A Year-Long Legal Battle
The dispute has kept Lungu’s remains in South Africa for more than a year. Previous attempts to hold a private funeral were halted after legal intervention by the Zambian government, which argued that a former head of state should be buried in Zambia with full national honors.
However, the appeals court ultimately rejected the government’s position and ruled in favor of the family’s constitutional and common-law rights.
What Happens Next?
Following the judgment, Zambia’s government indicated that it would respect the court’s decision, reducing the likelihood of further legal challenges. If the burial proceeds in South Africa, Lungu will become the first former Zambian president to be buried outside the country since independence.
The ruling brings closure to a highly emotional and politically charged dispute, allowing the family to move forward with funeral arrangements while honoring what they say were the late president’s final wishes.
Who Was Edgar Lungu?
Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021. He remained a prominent figure in the country’s political landscape even after leaving office and continued to influence opposition politics until his death in South Africa at the age of 68.
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