The family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has won its court case in the South African Supreme Court against President Hakainde Hichilema’s government and can now bury him where the family wishes, bringing an end to an embarrassing saga that has dragged on since 5 June 2025, when the former president died.
Until now, Lungu’s body had remained in a South African mortuary for a year after Hichilema’s government insisted that he be buried in Zambia at the country’s presidential burial site. The ruling affirms the family’s right to determine the final resting place of the former president and brings closure to a dispute that attracted significant attention across the region.
The family had agreed to Edgar Lungu being buried in Zambia on the condition that President Hakainde Hichilema would not play a central role in the funeral proceedings, something the Zambian government dismissed. They subsequently opted for South Africa, maintaining that Lungu had left clear instructions that he did not want Hichilema to preside over or be associated with his funeral.
A similar situation occurred in Zimbabwe following the death of former President Robert Mugabe. Despite government plans for him to be buried at the National Heroes Acre, Mugabe had made it known that he did not wish to be interred there. After a prolonged dispute with his family, the Zimbabwean government eventually accepted the family’s wishes, and Mugabe was buried at his rural home in Kutama instead.
"We are very glad that the Justice system has finally made the a progressive decision of giving the Lungu Family the right to bury the Former President of Zambia President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in South Africa. Every family must be accorded the right to decide what to do with the mortal remains of their beloved one. To the Lungu family, we are in solidarity with you and we affirm our commitment to see the departed respected statesman being accorded the family burial he deserves and at last he can be allowed to rest in a place that his soul can be in peace," said Cleopas Mugomba.