Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, has confirmed that the government will respect the forthcoming court ruling on the burial site of former President Edgar Lungu. The court is expected to deliver its judgment by Friday, August 8, 2025.
The case involves a dispute over the final resting place of Mr. Lungu, who passed away in South Africa on June 5, 2025. The Zambian government is pushing to have his body repatriated for burial in Zambia. However, the late president’s family opposes this move and insists that he should be buried in South Africa.
In a recent interview, Kabesha described the situation as primarily administrative. He expressed concern that the issue escalated to the courts rather than being resolved through dialogue and negotiation. According to him, the core of the disagreement stems from the former First Lady, Esther Lungu, refusing to allow President Hakainde Hichilema to be present near the late president’s casket. Kabesha noted that such matters could have been handled privately to avoid public conflict.
Kabesha emphasized the significance of the burial location for the Zambian people. He said that burying Mr. Lungu outside Zambia would be “unfortunate” and could affect national unity and the country’s collective memory of the late leader.
The legal representatives for the Lungu family presented a different view. They argued that the former president was subjected to harsh treatment by the Zambian government before his death. They cited incidents where Mr. Lungu was allegedly prevented from traveling freely, attending church services, and even jogging, which they say compromised his dignity and well-being.
Based on these claims, the family’s lawyers insist that Mr. Lungu’s burial in South Africa is justified. They also stated that there is no documented evidence indicating the former president wished to be buried in Zambia.
This dispute has drawn national attention, highlighting tensions between the government and the Lungu family. The court’s ruling will ultimately determine where the former president will be laid to rest, a decision that will have lasting emotional and political implications for Zambia.