The mortal remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu will be kept at a private mortuary in Pretoria after the Zambian government and the Lungu family rea...
The mortal remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu will be kept at a private mortuary in Pretoria after the Zambian government and the Lungu family reached an agreement before the High Court in South Africa. The decision is the latest development in the long-running dispute over the burial of the former head of state.
Under the agreement, Lungu’s remains will be transferred to AVBOB private mortuary in Pretoria East. The court also ruled that the Zambian government will cover all costs linked to keeping the body at the mortuary while legal and family matters continue.
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The court further set aside an earlier order issued on April 22 after Lungu’s remains had been moved from another funeral parlour. The matter returned to court after concerns were raised over the handling and transfer of the remains.
According to the ruling, if AVBOB declines to accept the appointment, the court will name another mortuary to keep the remains. This was included to ensure that the body remains in secure custody while the dispute continues.
The court also directed that no person may access the remains for any purpose without first obtaining a court order. That condition places legal control over all future movement or access to the remains until another ruling is made.
Lungu died in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 5, 2025, where he had been receiving medical treatment. Since then, his burial has been delayed by disagreements between the family and the Zambian government over funeral arrangements and where he should be laid to rest.
The Zambian government has argued that a former president should receive a state funeral and be buried in Zambia. Officials have maintained that such ceremonies are part of national tradition and state protocol for former leaders.
However, members of the Lungu family have insisted they want to give the former president what they describe as a decent burial. They have previously opposed government involvement and supported a private process in line with family wishes.
The dispute has drawn attention in both Zambia and South Africa because it involves legal, political and family interests. Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 until 2021 and remained an influential political figure after leaving office.
For now, the remains will stay at the Pretoria mortuary under court supervision while both sides consider the next steps. The case continues to shape public debate in Zambia over state funerals, family rights and how former national leaders should be buried.
