A political rivalry so toxic it transcends death itself. Edgar Lungu's burial dispute reveals the deep wounds in Zambian democracy, where personal vendettas override national unity even in grief.
Two months after his death, Zambia's former president remains unburied as his family and government wage a bitter legal war that exposes the nation's deep political divisions
For over two months, former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has remained unburied, his body trapped in a South African mortuary while his family and the government of his successor Hakainde Hichilema wage an unprecedented legal battle that has exposed the toxic depths of Zambia's political rivalries. What should have been a moment of national unity has instead become a symbol of how personal animosity can transcend even death.
The saga reached a dramatic climax on August 8, 2025, when South Africa's Pretoria High Court ruled that Lungu's remains must be repatriated to Zambia for a state funeral, despite his family's desperate objections. Yet even this judicial intervention has failed to resolve the crisis, with the Lungu family immediately filing an appeal that could drag the dispute on for months more.
The Roots of an Extraordinary Feud
The burial dispute stems from a political rivalry so bitter that Lungu's final wish was reportedly for Hichilema to "stay away from his funeral". This animosity traces back to 2017, when Hichilema spent over 100 days in prison on treason charges after his motorcade allegedly failed to yield to Lungu's presidential convoy. Those charges were eventually dropped following international intervention, but the damage was done.
Sishuwa Sishuwa, a prominent Zambian historian at Stellenbosch University, argues that the current crisis reflects deeper political motivations rather than genuine respect for the deceased. "Such thoughtless remarks are culturally inappropriate, weaken the government's assertions that their actions are driven by the intent to provide Lungu with a respectful burial, and highlight that political motives, rather than the public's welfare, are the primary influences at play," he told the BBC.
The 68-year-old Lungu died on June 5, 2025, at a Pretoria hospital while receiving treatment for achalasia, a condition that narrows the esophagus. He had served as Zambia's sixth president from 2015 to 2021, losing decisively to Hichilema by nearly one million votes in elections that marked his definitive exit from power.
A Family Under Siege
The Lungu family's resistance to a state funeral isn't just about protocol—it's about protection. Since Hichilema took office, multiple members of Lungu's family have faced corruption charges that they describe as political persecution. Tasila Lungu, the former president's daughter and current Member of Parliament, was arrested in February 2025 on money laundering charges. Her mother, Esther Lungu, and sister Chiyeso face fraud allegations, while her brother Dalitso is battling corruption charges.
"We have had to spend a considerable amount of time with our father and mother who, in all these difficult times, have opted to remain silent," Tasila said tearfully at a 2023 press conference, accusing the state of "unjustified persecution".
The family's spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, has been uncompromising in his criticism of the government's motives. "It will be a mockery for this administration to be the ones to put him to rest because everything that they have done in the recent past has shown that they cannot be trusted," he declared. The family argues that Lungu died "as a private person" after the government stripped him of his retirement benefits when he announced a political comeback in 2023.
The Court's Verdict and Its Aftermath
Judge Aubrey Ledwaba's ruling in favor of the Zambian government was unequivocal:
"A former president's wishes or the wishes of his family cannot outweigh the right of the state to honor that individual with a state funeral and burial at the official site designated for national leaders".
The court determined that under Zambian law, "even if a late president had expressed a desire not to be given a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by public interest".
The emotional toll was evident in the courtroom. Bertha Lungu, Edgar Lungu's sister, broke down in tears and directed angry words at Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, who was present for the ruling. The scene, captured on social media, showed the raw pain of a family that feels abandoned by the state their patriarch once led.
Attorney General Kabesha, however, remained resolute: "This is not winning. You don't win over a burial. It's just what makes good sense, that the former president of the Republic of Zambia should be buried in his own country, the country where he was president".
Historical Precedent and Legal Gaps
Zambia has no specific law governing presidential burials, a gap that has complicated this unprecedented dispute. Traditionally, all former presidents are buried at Embassy Park Presidential Burial Site in Lusaka, a national monument that serves as the final resting place for the nation's leaders. Five presidents already rest there: Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa, Rupiah Banda, and Michael Sata.
Ironically, Lungu himself once presided over a similar dispute. In 2021, when Kenneth Kaunda's family wanted him buried alongside his wife rather than at Embassy Park, President Lungu's administration successfully argued that state interests superseded family wishes. Now, the roles have reversed in a bitter twist of fate.
Dr. Fred M'membe, president of Zambia's Socialist Party, offers a different perspective on state funerals. "There's no law that says the former president has to be given a state funeral. It's not a law," he argued on Channel Africa. M'membe contends that while the state can cover funeral expenses, there's no legal obligation for a state burial.
This crisis extends far beyond funeral arrangements—it reflects Zambia's broader struggle with democratic governance and rule of law. The dispute has diverted attention from pressing economic challenges facing the copper-rich nation, which is still recovering from the debt crisis Lungu left behind.
The prolonged legal battle also raises questions about the government's priorities. Critics argue that resources spent on this court fight could be better used addressing poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure needs that affect ordinary Zambians daily.
Politically, the dispute has deepened divisions within Zambian society. Social media has become a battleground, with supporters of both sides engaging in increasingly toxic exchanges. Some Hichilema supporters celebrated the court ruling with posts declaring "It's coming home!"—a phrase that many found disrespectful given the circumstances.
The Lungu burial saga has captured attention across Africa, where presidential succession and the treatment of former leaders remain sensitive issues. South Africa's involvement as the host country has been particularly delicate, with the government trying to balance respect for family wishes with diplomatic relations with Zambia.
The dispute also highlights how personal political rivalries can undermine institutional processes across the continent. Similar feuds between current and former leaders have played out in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa itself, often with destabilizing consequences for democratic norms.
What's Next: A Battle That Could Drag On
The Lungu family's appeal to the South African court system means this saga is far from over. Makebi Zulu has indicated the family is prepared to wait "until he is given what is deemed a dignified burial, not a mockery" that violates their rights to dignity.
The appeal process could take months, potentially reaching South Africa's Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, Lungu's body remains in a Pretoria mortuary, a grim symbol of how political hatred can persist beyond the grave.
If the appeal fails, the family faces the prospect of either accepting a state funeral presided over by their political enemy or continuing their resistance at the risk of further legal complications. The government, meanwhile, must balance its desire for a resolution with the political costs of appearing heavy-handed against a grieving family.
The Edgar Lungu burial dispute represents more than a disagreement over funeral arrangements—it's a test of whether Zambian democracy can mature beyond the personal vendettas that have defined its recent politics. Until that healing occurs, the nation's sixth president will remain trapped between two worlds, unable to find the peace in death that eluded him in his final years of life.
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