Former Zambian President To Be Buried In South Africa As Family and Government Fight Over Body

Edgar Chagwa Lungu

Source: Africa Publicity

The late ex-President of Zambia, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will be buried in South Africa where he died recently while receiving treatment, his family has announced as they failed to reach an agreement with the Zambian government for his burial to take place in Zambia.

According to the family in a statement, he will be laid to rest in South Africa in accordance with their wishes.

In the statement, the family pointed out that this period has been emotional and they are grateful for the support and condolences extended from across the continent and the world.

The family thanked the government of South Africa for their support and for honouring the family’s decision to hold a private funeral and burial in the country, calling for peace amongst Zambians during this time and thanks all friends, supporters and members of the public for their understanding.

According to the family, the details regarding the funeral arrangements and burial will be shared to the Zambian and South African public in due course.

As earlier reported, Mr. Lungu’s family put a stop to the return of his body from South Africa to Zambia.

 

According to the family, the Zambian government has breached key agreements over his funeral.

 

Mr. Lungu’s body was scheduled to be flown back to Zambia today, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, on a private charter plane.

 

The body was due to return after days of uncertainty and negotiations between the family and the government of incumbent President Hakinde Hichilema.

 

But putting a stop to the return of the body, the family says it “finds it very difficult to believe that the government will stick to their end of the agreement.”

 

According to the family spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, “Sadly so, that the mortal remains of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu will not return today.”

 

Mr. Zulu accused the government of releasing a draft programme of Mr. Lungu’s funeral without consulting the family.

 

President Hichilema was due to receive the body today upon its arrival at the airport in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

 

Mr. Lungu’s body was to be taken to his residence in Lusaka where it would lie in state ahead of his state funeral on June 22 and burial the following day.

 

But speaking from South Africa on Wednesday, Mr. Zulu says the government had deviated from the agreed programme.

 

He says “It is our hope that some day, his remains will be repatriated back home and buried.”

 

Mr. Zulu delivered surrounded by Mr. Lungu’s immediate family.

 

This is the second time Mr. Lungu’s family has refused to repatriate his body. There has been tension between the government and the family over who should control the funeral arrangements.

 

Mr. Lungu’s party, the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) which he led until his death, has backed his family’s stance and has accused the government of politicizing the burial process.

 

The late former President Lungu led Zambia from 2015 to 2021. He died in June 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.

 

Zambia is observing a 16-day national mourning.

 

Mr. Lungu’s family says he left behind instructions that President Hichilema, his long-standing rival, “should not come anywhere near his body.”

 

The issue was apparently resolved following a deal that allowed for Mr. Hichilema to preside over a state funeral next Sunday.

 

In 2021, after six years serving as President of Zambia, Mr. Lungu lost the election to Hichilema.