Zambia Family Wins Final Legal Battle Over Ex‑President Lungu’s Burial

One year after his death, former Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s relatives have secured a legal victory, ensuring the former leader will be laid to rest in the country where he died – South Africa.

The judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned a high‑court ruling that had authorised the Zambian government to move the ex‑president’s body back home for a state funeral. The court found that the family’s wishes – to be buried privately and without presence of President Hakainde Hichilema – were legally protected.

The dispute has reflected a long‑standing feud between Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, and Hichilema, who ousted him in the 2021 election. The case has gone through multiple courts, from Pretoria’s high court to Zambia’s Supreme Court, keeping the nation’s leaders in public debate.

The Zambian government, although rejecting the ruling, said it would not pursue the matter further – a concession that may signal a softer stance on the issue of state funerals and post‑humous honours.

For many in Zambia, the outcome underscores the right of families to decide how a deceased leader is honoured, lest political divisions dictate fates beyond life. The decision is expected to ease tensions, although the broader debate over national identity and leadership legacy will continue.