The legal battle over the final resting place of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has taken another dramatic turn after South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) set aside a previous Gauteng High Court ruling that had allowed the Zambian government to repatriate his remains for a state funeral and burial.
Lungu died in South Africa on 5 June 2025 while receiving medical treatment. Since then, a bitter dispute has unfolded between his family and the Zambian government over where he should be buried and who has the authority to make that decision. The Zambian government had argued that, as a former head of state, Lungu deserved a state funeral and burial in Zambia. His family, however, maintained that he wished to be buried privately in South Africa.
The latest ruling by the SCA marks a significant victory for the Lungu family and adds a new chapter to a case that has attracted attention across Southern Africa. The dispute has delayed the burial of the former president for more than a year, highlighting deep political divisions in Zambia that have continued even after his death.
The case has also sparked debate in South Africa, where immigration and cross-border issues often dominate public discussions. While some South Africans have questioned why the matter has remained before local courts for so long, legal experts note that the dispute involves constitutional rights, international legal principles and the wishes of both a sovereign government and a grieving family.
With the High Court judgment now overturned, uncertainty remains over what happens next and where Edgar Lungu will ultimately be laid to rest. For now, the long-running legal and political battle over the former president’s remains is far from over.
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