Exclusive: AG - Government is Committed to Securing Dignified ECL Burial

This morning, the Gauteng Division of the High Court is poised to deliver its ruling in the ongoing dispute over the burial of Zambia’s sixth President, Dr. Edgar Changwa Lungu.

President Lungu passed away in South Africa on June 5, 2025, yet his remains are unburied, caught in a stalemate between the Zambian government and the late president’s family. Lungu’s family insists that it was his wish to be laid to rest in South Africa—a decision fueled by claims that he was mistreated by the current administration.

On the other hand, the Zambian government maintains that, as a former Head of State, Dr. Lungu is entitled to the honors of a State funeral. The government’s legal team argued in the South African court that it would be inappropriate for the late President to be buried privately in a foreign country, considering his nearly seven years of service as Zambia’s leader.

The government’s decision to pursue legal action through the Attorney General has prompted questions about taking the matter to court. However, speaking exclusively to Open Zambia, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, who is leading the Government’s legal team, has insisted that the State has a constitutional and moral responsibility to ensure that all former Heads of State are granted burials befitting their office and legacy.

“This is not simply a matter of family preference—it is a matter of national protocol, public interest, and respect for the institutions of the Republic,” he said. “The Government remains committed to granting the late President a dignified burial befitting his status.” He also emphasised the government’s willingness to reconcile differences and “bury the hatchet.”

From the outset, it appeared that the opposition—particularly the Patriotic Front (PF) party—sought to politicise the funeral. The family’s persistence seemed calculated to embarrass the government and President Hichilema before the international community while omitting key facts. Notably, President Lungu is the only Zambian leader to have died while retaining his immunity, despite controversies during his tenure. Importantly, it was not President Hichilema nor his government who stripped Lungu of immunity; laws stipulate that any former president who returns to active politics forfeits that privilege.

Whichever way the South African court rules today, one fact is clear: the government has fulfilled its duty to the public. It has shown it bears no ill will toward the former President, honoring him both as a citizen and as a leader of Zambia.

Former President Lungu passed away at the age of 68. He served as Zambia’s sixth President from 2015 to 2021.