Edgar Lungu’s burial dispute postponed indefinitely

The Pretoria High Court has indefinitely postponed an application by the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu for leave to appeal a ruling ordering his repatriation to Zambia for burial.

The postponement follows failed negotiations between the Lungu family and the Zambian government regarding the late president’s final resting place. The discussions, believed to have taken place in private, did not yield a resolution.

Lungu died in June at a hospital in Johannesburg.

His family is seeking to have him buried in South Africa, where he passed away, despite the High Court’s earlier ruling that his remains be returned to Zambia for a state funeral.

The court has granted the family time to pursue a separate application for direct access to the Constitutional Court.

In an affidavit, former First Lady Esther Lungu argued that the state should not dictate burial arrangements, stating that no one should be compelled to bury a loved one according to government mandates.

She further claimed that her husband’s dying wish was to prevent his political rival, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, from attending his funeral, something she believes would be ensured if the burial takes place in South Africa.

Public opinion in South Africa is however divided, with some expressing support for Esther Lungu, arguing that her wishes and those of her late husband — should take precedence.

“Whatever the wife is saying is right. He must be buried in South Africa. His wife wants him to be buried in South Africa and also his wish was for Hichilema not to come to his funeral so to prevent that from happening he must be buried in South Africa,” said one person.

Meanwhile, some foreign nationals living in South Africa have welcomed the court’s initial decision for repatriation, emphasizing the cultural and ancestral importance of burying a leader on home soil.

The dispute has sparked protests and public commentary from various organisations, further complicating and delaying the former president’s funeral arrangements.