The High Court of South Africa has ruled that the body of former President of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu can be flown back to Lusaka by the Zambian Government.
In the controversial development, the South African High Court has reportedly given the nod for the late President Lungu to be accorded an official state burial in his home country of Zambia.
South Africa trying to play safe diplomatically?
However, the court ruling seems to go against the wishes of the late Lungu’s family who have been objecting the decision, arguing that even the former President himself did not want to be given a state burial in Zambia where the current president Hakainde Hichilema is likely to attend the occasion.
Before his death, the former President Edgar Lungu had reportedly stated clearly that he did not want, Hakainde Hichilema to attend his funeral, being his sworn enemy to the grave.
The family of the late Lungu therefore contests that the court verdict is against the will of the former Zambian president.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s family and relatives had opted to keep the former President’s body in South Africa until further notice, citing government interference.
Lungu, who died in South Africa on the 5th of June 2025 while receiving medical treatment, had reportedly expressed a wish that Hichilema does not attend his funeral, it was reported.
While the family insisted on a private ceremony, the government felt that, as a former president, Lungu deserves a state funeral.
The late Lungu’s body was supposed to be airlifted from Johannesburg to Lusaka, immediately after his passing but this was later cancelled by the family amid the bitter feud with the Zambian government.
This forced government officials led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to fly to South Africa to negotiate with the family.
After the lengthy talks, it was agreed that Lungu’s body would be flown to Zambia aboard a private plane.
On arrival, the former president’s body was to be received by President Hichilema and accorded full military honours, after which it would be taken to his private residence.
There was also to be a state funeral presided over by President Hichilema, although Lungu had instructed that he should not move anywhere near his body.
His party claimed that Lungu had been blocked by Hichilema’s government from travelling abroad and that if he had been allowed to seek treatment abroad sooner, he would have been alive today.
Lungu’s family therefore feels that it is hypocritical for a government that harassed him in life to take charge of his funeral.
On the other hand, it would be a big embarrassment to the government for a former head of state to be interred with private funeral rites and in the absence of the sitting president.
That’s why government officials are doing everything to persuade the family.
It appears Lungu died with great bitterness against Hichilema. The two were bitter political rivals who harassed each other using state power.
The government was previously said to have reached a consensus with the family on 15 June, paving the way for a state funeral and burial.
However, the family reversed course, citing unresolved concerns over the funeral program and President Hichilema’s involvement.
The dispute has its roots in a long-standing rivalry between Lungu and Hichilema, dating back to their contentious political battles.