Zambian government halts burial of former president in South Africa

In June 2023, the Zambian government took legal action to prevent the burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa. Lungu, who served as Zambia’s leader from 2015 to 2021, passed away from an undisclosed illness on June 5, 2023, in a South African hospital. His family had planned for a private burial in South Africa, which led to a dispute over the rightful location for his final resting place. This ongoing conflict stemmed from tensions between Lungu’s family and the current president, Hakainde Hichilema, who they felt should not attend the funeral due to his strained relations with the deceased. The Zambian Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, filed court papers a day before the funeral services, requesting an urgent injunction to stop the proceedings. The hearing occurred just before the scheduled funeral, resulting in Lungu's family having to appear in court dressed in black instead of at the service. The Pretoria High Court ruled in favor of the Zambian government, stating that after discussions between both parties, Lungu would not be buried until the dispute over the funeral arrangements was resolved. The Zambian government expressed that Lungu deserved a state funeral in his home country with full military honors, as established by Zambian law. Prior to his death, Lungu had a contentious political history with Hichilema, including accusations of interference and imprisonment related to political disputes that have divided their supporters. His government had previously imprisoned Hichilema in 2017, which drew international criticism and heightened tensions between the two leaders. Following his defeat to Hichilema in the 2021 presidential election, Lungu's actions and political decisions continued to evoke significant public interest and concern. As of now, the situation remains unresolved, with the Zambian government hopeful that an agreement can be made to repatriate Lungu’s body for him to receive a proper burial at home. This incident emphasizes the ongoing political divide in Zambia and raises questions about how the traditions and legalities of state funerals should reconcile with personal family wishes in times of national grief.