South African Court Rejects Family’s Request to Inter the Former President Lungu in the Country

A South African court has rejected the appeal from the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu to have his remains buried in South Africa. Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 until 2021, passed away in June 2025 while being treated in South Africa. His family aimed to inter him in Johannesburg to prevent current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema from attending or speaking at the funeral.

The Pretoria High Court had previously affirmed the Zambian government’s right to repatriate Lungu’s body for a state funeral in Lusaka, adhering to national protocols for former presidents. The family contested this decision, but the court dismissed their appeal, indicating there were no reasonable prospects for success. The court noted that the specifics of the case were unlikely to arise again.

This legal battle reflects the deep-rooted political rivalry between Lungu and Hichilema, which included Hichilema’s imprisonment in 2017 during Lungu’s presidency and subsequent claims of governmental harassment after Lungu’s term ended. The court’s ruling emphasizes the priority of national interests and state protocol over personal desires in the context of state funerals.

Consequently, Lungu’s remains are set to be returned to Zambia for burial in Lusaka, consistent with the country’s traditions of honoring its former leaders.