JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A bitter debate over whether the body of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu should be returned to his country for a state funeral or remain in South Africa for burial went to the South African Court of Appeal on Friday, nearly a year after his death.
Lungu, who was the leader of Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5, 2025, at the age of 68.
He has not yet been buried due to a tug of war between his family and his longtime rival, current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
Hichilema wants Lungu's body returned for a state ceremony, and his government in August sought a ruling from the Pretoria High Court that the remains be handed over to Zambian diplomats for repatriation.
However, Lungu's family wanted him buried in South Africa as they objected to any funeral arrangements involving his arch rival Hichilema, and appealed the decision before the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa.
At arguments in the city of Bloemfontein on Friday, family lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi argued that the Zambian government's claim for a state burial was unfair because Lungu's presidential benefits had been revoked before his death. He stressed that the widow's wishes should be given priority in the decision on burial.
Ben Stoop, a lawyer for the Zambian government, argued that the family and government had previously agreed that Hichilema would attend the funeral and receive dignitaries, and that the family later breached this agreement.
The five judges hearing the appeal questioned the absence of any express instructions that Lungu intended to be buried in South Africa, even if it was true that he did not want his successor to perform his funeral.
The court did not say when the decision would be issued.
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