By: Rejoice Henrietta Otoo Arthur
The Zambian government has taken urgent legal action in South Africa to stop the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, state media reports.
The move comes amid a growing dispute between the government and Lungu’s family, who want to bury him privately in South Africa. The government, however, insists Lungu must be brought back to Zambia and laid to rest with a state funeral.
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has asked the court to halt the burial until the matter is resolved. According to state broadcaster ZNBC, the family has said it will go ahead with the funeral as planned, claiming it has not been served any court papers.
President Hakainde Hichilema argues that, as a former president, Lungu “belongs to the nation of Zambia” and must be buried at home with full state honours. In court documents, the Attorney General stated that a state funeral is a formal public event for leaders of national significance, citing the example of founding president Kenneth Kaunda. In that case, the government buried Kaunda in Lusaka despite his family’s wishes.
The latest dispute highlights long-standing tensions between Lungu and Hichilema. The two leaders were political rivals when Lungu was in office, with Hichilema being imprisoned for more than 100 days on treason charges. Now, their rivalry appears to have carried on beyond Lungu’s death.
