Lungu Family Seeks Compensation Over Cancelled South African Burial

The  family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is demanding compensation from the Zambian government following the abrupt cancellation of his burial, which was scheduled to take place in South Africa on June 25, 2025.

In new submissions filed before the South African High Court, the Lungu family is seeking a cost order, accusing the Zambian government of causing emotional and financial hardship by filing an urgent court application to repatriate Mr. Lungu’s body on the same day the burial was planned.

The family argues that the government’s last-minute legal intervention led to the abandonment of funeral arrangements, including payments made for a funeral home, venue hire, clergy, transportation, and security services. These costs, they claim, were incurred lawfully and aligned with Mr. Lungu’s final wishes.

They further state that former First Lady Esther Lungu, as the legal surviving spouse, holds the right under South African law to make burial decisions regarding her late husband. The family insists that the late President Lungu had explicitly stated he did not want to be buried under the current Zambian administration led by President Hakainde Hichilema.

The Zambian government, however, has maintained its position on repatriating the former Head of State’s remains for a state burial in Zambia—an effort the Lungu family is asking the court to block.

The outcome of the case could set a legal precedent in international funeral disputes involving state figures and family wishes.