The Court in Southern Africa Allowed the Burial of Former President Edgar Lungu

• The court allowed the burial of former President Edgar Lungu
• The family of Lungu spoke against state funerals
• The conflict between Lungu and Hichilema has been ongoing for several years

The Southern African court upheld the decision in favor of the family of Lungu, allowing the burial of former President Edgar Lungu in his home region. The court established that the family's wishes cannot outweigh state interests.

Lungu, who was President of Zambia from 2015 to 2021, passed away in early June 2025 in a hospital in Southern Africa. His family wanted to bury him in Southern Africa and did not wish to include the current President Hakainde Hichilema in the funeral arrangements.

The court noted that state funerals for individuals of national significance are a matter of public interest. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba emphasized that even if a former president expresses the wish not to have state funerals, this cannot be a basis for their exclusion.

The government attorney for Zambia, Mulilo Kabesha, referred to the court's decision, stating that they hope for a swift resolution to the conflict, although the family of Lungu has the right to file an appeal. He stressed that the issue is not in the preeminence, but in the appropriateness of burying the former president in the region where he served.

Tags: Politics