A South African court on Thursday ordered that the remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu be placed in a “mutually agreed mortuary” in Pretoria, a decision that intersects with the family’s ongoing legal challenge to have the body buried in a private ceremony in Johannesburg.
The ruling comes as Lungu’s relatives have appealed to the Supreme Court of Zambia to overturn a High Court judgment that required the former president’s repatriation to Zambia for a state funeral. The family argues that one of Lungu’s final wishes was that his political rival, incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, not preside over the funeral.
Zambian lawyer and family spokesperson Makebi Zulu said the parties have identified a mortuary where access will be limited to family members only. “If any other person wishes to have access to the body, they must apply to the court and give notice to the applicants in this matter,” Zulu stated.
The case has been complicated by competing requests from the Zambian government and the family. On Thursday, the government petitioned the Pretoria High Court to move the remains to a mortuary of its choosing in preparation for repatriation. A week earlier, the court had ordered that the body be returned to the family, a decision issued shortly after the Zambian authorities collected Lungu’s remains from the Two Mountains mortuary, where they had been held since his death.
The family has accused the government of conducting a post‑mortem examination without a court order and without any family members present. “The family is in grief, especially because a post‑mortem was carried out without a court order and without any relatives,” Zulu said, adding that the transfer of the body from Two Mountains also occurred without family supervision.
Edgar Lungu died in June 2025 at a South African clinic while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. Ten months after his passing, the legal dispute continues to affect his relatives, who describe the process as “very painful.” Under the Thursday order, the Zambian government will bear all costs associated with the mortuary while the Supreme Court appeal proceeds.
The outcome of the appeal will determine whether Lungu’s remains will be repatriated for a state funeral in Zambia or remain in South Africa for a private burial. The case highlights the diplomatic and legal complexities that can arise when a former head of state dies abroad, and it underscores the importance of clear protocols for the handling of dignitaries’ remains.
