A South African court has halted the planned private burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, just as the ceremony was about to begin.
The announcement came only after a funeral mass had already concluded, leaving mourners in South Africa surprised and confused.
This development marks the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between the Zambian government and Lungu’s family. The family had opted for a private funeral in South Africa, rejecting the state funeral proposed by the Zambian authorities.
In response, the Zambian government filed an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court to block the burial. The court confirmed that the funeral could not proceed after the parties reached an agreement. It now appears that any burial will be delayed until at least August.
At the heart of the dispute is a long-standing rift between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema. According to the family, Lungu had reportedly expressed that Hichilema should not attend his funeral.
Following Lungu’s death in South Africa at the age of 68, his family insisted on managing all funeral arrangements, including the repatriation of his body. However, the Zambian government attempted to take over the process.
Although both sides initially agreed to a state funeral in Zambia, disagreements over the specifics led the family to plan a burial in South Africa instead.
President Hichilema has since asserted that Lungu, as a former head of state, “belongs to the nation of Zambia” and should be buried on Zambian soil.
The Pretoria High Court has now scheduled a hearing for August 4, 2025, and instructed Zambian Attorney General Mulilo D. Kabesha to submit an amended motion by July 4, with the family to file a response by July 11. The court will also decide who bears the costs of the emergency application at that time.
The Zambian government maintains that personal wishes should not override national interests—pointing to the precedent set during Kenneth Kaunda’s burial. Despite Kaunda’s family saying he wished to be buried beside his wife, the government proceeded with his burial at Embassy Memorial Park in Lusaka.
The ongoing row over Lungu’s funeral arrangements reflects the deep animosity that existed between him and President Hichilema. Their tense relationship dates back to Lungu’s presidency, during which Hichilema was jailed for over 100 days on treason charges after his motorcade allegedly failed to yield to Lungu’s.
