South African Court Orders Lungu Remains to Stay at Private Mortuary. Johannesburg, South Africa – The dispute surrounding the late Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s final resting place has reached a new phase after a South African court’s decision to maintain his remains at a “mutually agreed mortuary “in Pretoria. This development comes amidst a legal confrontation between the Lungu family, advocating for a private burial in South Africa, and the Zambian government, which supports a state funeral in Zambia.
In June 2025, President Lungu passed away in South Africa while receiving medical treatment, igniting the ongoing conflict over the funeral arrangements.
The Lungu family insists on a private ceremony in South Africa, in accordance with the former president’s wishes to be away from the public and political arena.
The Zambian government had initially seized Lungu’s body from the Two Mountains mortuary, prompting a South African court to order its return to the family. Subsequently, the Pretoria High Court overruled an earlier order to transfer Lungu’s remains to a state-managed facility, allowing only immediate family members access.
The latest ruling has resulted in an agreement between the Zambian government and the Lungu family to store the remains at the AVBOB private mortuary in Pretoria East.
The government has been directed to bear the costs of storing Lungu’s remains until the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) adjudicates on the Lungu family’s appeal.
The family’s lawyer, Makebi Zulu, confirmed that access to the remains would be restricted to the family, stating, “If any other person wishes to have access to the body, they ought to make an application to the court with notice being given to the applicants in this particular matter.”This case underscores the intricate balance between personal wishes and state protocol in the context of state funerals and burials. It also highlights the legal complexities that can arise when the desires of the deceased clash with state interests.
As the matter progresses, the world awaits the resolution of this dispute and its implications for the legacy of President Lungu and the political dynamics in Zambia.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
