Keypoints:
- Court halts Lungu’s burial during funeral
- Zambian government and family in legal clash
- Burial decision postponed to August 4
THE burial of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu was abruptly stopped on Wednesday, June 25, after a South African High Court issued an urgent ruling while his funeral service was already underway in Pretoria.
The dramatic decision came amid a growing dispute between Lungu’s family and the Zambian government, which has sou
ght to repatriate the late president’s body for a state funeral—an idea the family has fiercely resisted.
Lungu, 68, died on June 5 while receiving medical treatment in South Africa. His family insists he would not have wanted his political rival, President Hakainde Hichilema, involved in his funeral arrangements.
Legal ruling interrupts live-streamed service
As mourners—including Lungu’s widow—gathered inside a Pretoria church, news broke that the Gauteng High Court had issued an order halting the burial. The ruling followed a temporary agreement between the family and the Zambian government.
‘Respondents undertake not to proceed with the funeral or burial of the late president,’ the court said.
The announcement was broadcast live on SABC, South Africa’s national broadcaster, which had been streaming the service. Visibly shaken mourners learned of the court’s decision in real time.
Court sets August 4 date for burial hearing
The legal dispute will return to court on August 4, when arguments over Lungu’s final resting place will be formally heard.
Zambian lawmaker Chanda Katotobwe, who was present at the memorial, expressed frustration over the turn of events. ‘This is extending the pain, the grief, that the family and the people are going through,’ he told SABC News.
Lungu’s exact cause of death has not been disclosed, though his Patriotic Front (PF) party confirmed he had been receiving specialised medical care at a clinic in Pretoria at the time of his death.
Burial dispute reflects deep political divisions
Lungu served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, during which his government clashed frequently with opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema—now president. Since leaving office, Lungu and his allies have accused the current administration of political persecution.
The family’s refusal to allow a state burial has turned the former president’s death into a legal and political flashpoint, with his body still in South Africa and its final destination undecided.
The case h
as drawn attention across southern Africa, as questions about dignity in death, political rivalry, and the rule of law collide.
