JOHANNESBURG - After over 10 months, deceased former Zambian president Edgar Lungu may finally be laid to rest in his home country.
Lungu died aged 68 at Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in Pretoria on 5 June 2025. He died from complications following cardiac complications during surgery.
On 18 June, his family stopped the repatriation of his body to Zambia saying his funeral would take place in South Africa in accordance to their wishes for a private ceremony.
President Hakainde Hichilema, who was set to receive Lungu's body, had to halt the national mourning after four days while the matter played itself out.
Lungu and Hichilema had been political adversaries. Lungu was a trained military officer and lawyer. He became the country's sixth president in 2015 after the death of his predecessor Michael Sata in office.
He narrowly won the 2016 election against Hichilema after a violent campaign that saw clashes between the two parties that they represent.
READ: Zambian ex-president to be buried in South Africa after funeral row
During his tenure, he pledged the unite the country and rebuild the economy. Amnesty International said that repression under Lungu pushed Zambia to the edge, with a "brutal crackdown on human rights", and, "brazen attacks on any form of dissent".
He stepped down from the presidency in 2021 when Hichilema won fresh elections by a landslide. Lungu had said he planned to run for president again in the 2026 elections.
Family vs Government
Lungu has six children with his wife Esther. The family interdicted Lungu's repatriation alleging that the government had ill-intent. Lungu's sister, Bertha, during an outburst at the Pretoria High Court alleged that the Zambian government wanted to perform rituals on his body.
Hichilema has denied the allegations.
Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe said that the family and two governments were in constant communication to find a common ground.
"The decision to go to court was informed by the stalemate that had been reached," he said.
"He is not an ordinary citizen," Haimbe added. According to Haimbe the only way the matter could be settled was either through a discussion with the family or through the courts.
The Minister said that discussions broke down after they could not agree on the program pertaining to how Lungu's repatriation and burial would happen. The family, according to Haimbe did not want Hichilema in attendance.
"As the head of state, government was not comfortable with that," he added.
SCA appeal attempt
On 8 August the Lungu family failed in their application at the Pretoria High Court after the court ruled in favour of the Zambian government. The family vowed to continue the fight. They planned to take their fight to the Supreme Court of Appeal sitting in Bloemfontein.
According to the Zambian Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, the family was unable to proceed with their case.
READ: Zambia says it has taken possession of Edgar Lungu's remains
This means that the late former president's mortal remains will formally be transferred to the Zambian government. His body has been moved from a private burial service provider to a facility managed by the South African government.
"In line with the court's directive, the government will engage with the family to finalise burial arrangement," said Kabesha in a statement.
However, the family insists improper legal processes were followed.
They are now seeking to have the remains returned to the funeral home.