The funeral of former Zambia president in South Africa ceased at the last minute

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The funeral of former Zambia president in South Africa ceased at the last minute

South African courts have stopped planning to bury former Zambian President Edgar Lungu at an upcoming private ceremony.

The news was announced to the mourners in the South African church only after the funeral has ended.

This is the latest twist between the government and the Lungu family, as the family chooses to hold private ceremonies in South Africa rather than statewide funerals at home.

The Zambian government filed an emergency case in the Pretoria High Court in an attempt to block the funeral planned by its family.

The court said the funeral would not continue after “an agreement between the parties” but it seems that any funeral would not take place until August at the earliest.

The dispute comes after a long dispute between Lungu and his successor, Hakainde Hichilema, whose family said he had said that Hichilema should not attend his funeral.

After Lungu died in South Africa at 68, the family wanted to be in charge of funeral arrangements, including the repatriation of his body, but Zambian authorities tried to control the funeral.

The government and his family later agreed that he would hold a state funeral before the breakdown with the exact arrangement, prompting the family to choose a funeral in South Africa.

After that, President Xixilema argued that as former President Longuo “belongs to the Zambian country” and should be buried in the country.

The funeral attendees at the Cathedral of Kings in Johannesburg were told of the delay after the funeral mass [Nomsa Maseko / BBC]

The Pretoria Court granted the Zambian Attorney General Mulilo d Kabesha on July 4 to file his “Notice of Motion of Amendment” in support of Longu’s repatriation to Zambia. His family must submit the other party’s paper by July 11.

“This matter will be heard as a special motion on August 4, 2025.” The cost of the emergency application will be determined.

The Zambian government argues that personal aspirations should not be taken as an example by founding President Kenneth Kaunda and should not transcend the greater public interest.

In 2021, Kaunda’s family said he wanted to be placed next to his wife, rather than a government-designated location.

However, the government continued to bury Kaunda in the Lusaka Embassy Memorial Park.

A row at the current funeral of Lungu emphasizes the tension between him and his successor, who plays a role in life and continues even in death.

When Lungu was president, Hichilema was imprisoned for more than 100 days on treason for treason because Hichilema’s convoy allegedly refused to give way for him.