Zambia’s former President, Edgar Lungu, will be laid to rest in South Africa instead of his home country due to an ongoing dispute between his family and the Zambian government over funeral arrangements.
Lungu passed away earlier this month in a South African hospital after battling an undisclosed illness. Plans to repatriate his body have been disrupted by a rift between his family and the current administration, primarily surrounding the involvement of President Hakainde Hichilema in the funeral.
The Lungu family, through their spokesperson and legal representative Makebi Zulu, confirmed the decision to hold a private burial in South Africa.
“This decision reflects the family’s wishes for a private ceremony,” said Zulu. “We sincerely thank the South African government for its respectful support and for facilitating the family’s choice to conduct the funeral here.”
In response to the deadlock, President Hichilema announced on Thursday the cancellation of the 16-day national mourning period initially declared for the late leader.
“Our nation cannot remain in a state of indefinite mourning,” Hichilema stated during a televised address. “We have made every effort to cooperate with the family, but a final decision had to be made.”
He also extended an apology to South African authorities for any inconvenience caused.
Lungu, who served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021, lost power to Hichilema but remained a prominent political figure. Their rivalry was deeply rooted; in 2017, Hichilema was jailed for treason during Lungu’s tenure following a convoy standoff.
In recent years, Lungu and his family accused the Hichilema-led government of harassment and restricting his movement, including an alleged attempt to block his medical travel to South Africa—an allegation denied by the authorities.
Lungu’s unexpected burial outside Zambia marks a rare and controversial moment in the country’s political history.
