South Africa’s Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal in the continuing dispute over the burial arrangements of Zambia’s sixth Republican President, Edgar Lungu.
The hearing follows a successful application by the Lungu family to challenge a decision of the Pretoria High Court in Gauteng.
In that ruling, the High Court ordered that the former president’s body be repatriated to Zambia for burial, effectively allowing the Zambian Government to take custody of his remains.
The family is now asking the Supreme Court to overturn that decision. In their appeal papers, they argue that the lower court did not adequately consider their rights and position in relation to the funeral arrangements.
They contend that, as immediate relatives, their views should carry significant weight in determining how and where Mr Lungu is laid to rest.
Mr Lungu, 68, died on June 5, 2025, in South Africa, where he had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer. His death marked the end of a political career that saw him serve as Zambia’s head of state and remain an influential figure even after leaving office.
Soon after his passing, disagreements emerged between the family and the Zambian Government over the manner in which his funeral should be conducted.
At the centre of the dispute is the question of whether his burial should be handled strictly as a private family matter or as a state occasion in recognition of his status as a former president.
According to court documents filed by the family, Mr Lungu had expressed a wish that his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, should not attend his burial. The family maintains that this preference should be respected and reflected in the funeral arrangements.
The Government, however, has indicated its intention to accord Mr Lungu a state funeral. Under established protocol and precedent, such an event would typically be attended by the sitting president and other senior government officials.
Authorities argue that as a former head of state, Mr Lungu is entitled to full state honours, which come with defined ceremonial expectations.
The appeal before the Supreme Court is therefore expected to address both procedural and substantive questions, including the balance between family wishes and state interests, as well as the interpretation of legal principles governing custody and burial of prominent public figures.
The outcome of the case could set an important precedent for how similar matters are handled in the future, particularly when the death of a former national leader gives rise to competing claims between relatives and the state.
For now, the final decision on where and how Edgar Lungu will be buried rests with South Africa’s highest court, whose ruling is likely to have significant implications for both the Lungu family and the Zambian Government.
Picture: Lungu’s requiem in South Africa
