Zambia's Political Firestorm: AG's Burial Battle Ignites National Fury Over Ex-President Lungu's Remains

The passing of Zambia's Sixth Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on June 5, 2025, in South Africa, where he was receiving treatment for throat cancer, has ignited a protracted and sensitive dispute surrounding his burial arrangements. The immediate aftermath of his death saw the South African Police Service initiate an inquest on the same day to ascertain the circumstances, reportedly including a postmortem that his family vehemently protested was conducted without their consent or presence.

The controversy quickly escalated into a prolonged legal battle in South Africa concerning the custody and repatriation of the former Head of State's remains. A pivotal moment occurred on August 8, 2025, when the Pretoria High Court ruled that the body should be released to the Zambian Government to facilitate preparations for repatriation and burial at Embassy Park in Lusaka. This ruling faced a challenge from the Lungu family, who argued that the judgment did not adequately consider their rights as next of kin and publicly stated that Mr. Lungu had left instructions disallowing his political rival and successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, from being near his body.

In a formal press statement issued on April 22, 2026, the Attorney General of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Mulilo Kabesha SC, confirmed that the High Court in Pretoria had formally transferred Dr. Lungu's mortal remains to the Zambian Government. This transfer reportedly followed the former President’s family’s inability to proceed with their case before the South African Supreme Court of Appeal. Consequently, the remains were relocated from Two Mountains Burial Services (PTY) Limited to a facility managed by the South African Government, with the Zambian Government announcing its intention to engage with the family to finalize burial arrangements.

However, subsequent statements by Attorney General Kabesha introduced a nuanced perspective on the physical custody of the remains. Speaking on the national broadcaster ZNBC on April 25, 2026, Mr. Kabesha asserted that the remains had “at no point been in the physical custody of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.” Instead, he clarified, they were held by the South African Police Service in connection with their inquest, and were subsequently handed over to the family on the evening of Thursday, April 23, 2026. This clarification indicated a distinction between legal custodianship and physical possession by Zambian authorities on foreign soil, adding another layer to the complex narrative. Mr. Kabesha reiterated President Hakainde Hichilema’s interest in the burial as “purely constitutional,” emphasizing the duty to accord the former President the dignity his office demands, and affirming the government's commitment to respecting all court orders.

Amidst the legal and political tug-of-war, civil society and religious bodies have voiced increasing concern. The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), through its President Rev. Ackson Banda, warned that the prolonged uncertainty risked undermining the dignity of the burial process and exhausting public patience. Rev. Banda urged both the Government and the bereaved family to set aside their differences and work towards a mutually acceptable resolution, stressing its importance for national harmony and closure, particularly as the nation approaches general elections. Separately, Antonio Mourinho Mwanza criticized the public “cho-chise, tit-for-tat exchange in the media,” advocating for a suspension of court processes and private, respectful dialogue among all parties. He emphasized the need for wisdom, restraint, and empathy, rather than public combat, to resolve such a sensitive and divisive matter.

Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, a lawyer by profession, served as Zambia's President from 2015 to 2021 before losing to Mr. Hichilema. The ongoing disagreement over his final resting arrangements continues to highlight deep-seated tensions and calls for a resolution that honours his legacy while fostering national unity and respecting due process.