Pretoria High Court Halts Edgar Lungu’s Burial in South Africa Amid Legal Dispute with Zambian Government
The planned burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu in Johannesburg has been halted following a court order issued by the High Court in Pretoria.
The burial, which was set for Wednesday, 25 June at a cemetery in Hillbrow, was stopped after the Zambian government filed an urgent court application to challenge the family’s decision to inter the late president in South Africa, SABC News reveals.
The court has now directed both Lungu’s family and the Zambian authorities to work toward a mutual agreement regarding his final resting place.
The burial remains on hold until a final decision is made on whether his remains will be repatriated to Zambia for an official state funeral.
Also Read: Zambian Government Seeks Court Order to Block Edgar Lungu’s Burial in South Africa
Government Seeks to Uphold State Funeral Traditions
As previously reported, Zambia’s Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha launched a public interest lawsuit against several members of Lungu’s family, including former First Lady Esther Lungu, four of Lungu’s children, and the family lawyer Makebi Zulu.
This comes as the family to rejected the proposed state funeral and opted for burial in South Africa instead.
His family insists that it was his dying wish not to have President Hakainde Hichilema—his political rival—anywhere near his body or his funeral
However, the Zambian government is pushing for the former head of state to be buried on home soil with full military honours in accordance with national customs and the law, regardless of the late president’s alleged personal wishes.
Kabesha cited legal precedent, pointing to the burial of Zambia’s founding father Kenneth Kaunda, whose own wishes were overridden in favour of a public interest decision by the courts.
Way Forward Unclear as Both Sides Remain Firm
It remains to be seen whether Lungu’s body will be repatriated to Zambia or buried in South Africa. The court has not issued a final ruling on the matter but has urged dialogue. For now, the burial is suspended until further notice, and the legal battle has exposed deep divisions between Lungu’s family and the current government.
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