The family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has demanded that his remains be returned to a private mortuary facility, escalating an ongoing legal dispute over his burial arrangements.
On Thursday, the Zambian government announced that it was in possession of Lungu’s body, which had been moved from Two Mountains Funeral Services to a state-managed facility.
The move prompted urgent legal action from the Lungu family, who approached the High Court of South Africa, Pretoria seeking an interdict. The court treated the matter as “one of extreme urgency” and ruled in favour of the family, ordering that the remains be returned either to the private funeral home or another facility of their choosing, according to Judge Rochelle Francis-Subbiah.
Lungu died at the age of 68 on 5 June 2025 at Mediclinic Medforum Hospital after suffering cardiac complications during surgery.
His death has been followed by a protracted dispute between the Zambian government and the family over burial arrangements, which has continued for more than 10 months.
The family has repeatedly opposed efforts to repatriate his remains to Zambia, arguing that he would not have wanted his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, to be present at his funeral. The Zambian government, meanwhile, has sought to halt burial proceedings in South Africa while legal processes unfold.
A previous ruling by the Pretoria High Court in August 2025 had authorised the repatriation of Lungu’s remains to Zambia.
In a statement on Facebook, family spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba disputed claims that the family had missed a deadline to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, insisting that all required legal documents had been filed.
He also stated that there is a court order involving the South African Police Service, the National Police Commissioner, and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, instructing them to ensure compliance with the ruling on the remains.
Meanwhile, Citizens First Party president Harry Kalaba has criticised the ongoing impasse, calling it “embarrassing” and warning that it risks straining diplomatic relations between Zambia and South Africa.