A South African court has ruled that the Zambian government may repatriate the body of former President Edgar Lungu and accord him a state funeral, despite opposition from his family, the Pretoria High Court has confirmed.
Lungu, who passed away in South Africa in June, was intended by his family to be buried privately in South Africa. The Zambian government opposed these plans and filed a legal challenge to enable repatriation and a state ceremonial burial, citing the primacy of public interest over personal preferences.
In its ruling, the court agreed with the Zambian state’s position that public interest should not be subordinated to personal wishes, allowing the government to proceed with repatriation and public funeral arrangements.
The legal dispute was rooted in a well-known tension between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema. Reports suggest that before his death, Lungu expressed a wish that Hichilema should not attend his funeral, a wish his family supported.
According to court documents, this familial stance was presented as part of the application to keep the burial private. However, the Zambian government argued that Lungu’s passing was a national matter and required full state honours.
The court’s decision effectively overruled the family’s objection and grants the Zambian government the legal authority to manage the repatriation and funeral as a state event.
The ruling does not negate the family’s sentiments but confirms the precedence of official protocol in the case of a former head of state. No further details regarding the funeral’s scheduling or logistics have been announced.
