Zambian ex-president to be buried in South Africa after funeral row

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Lusaka, Zambia | AFP

The family of Zambia's late president, Edgar Lungu, announced on Friday that he will be buried in South Africa after a row with the Zambian government over its plans for a state funeral.

Lungu's family on Wednesday stopped his body from being repatriated from South Africa, where he died in hospital on June 5, after it emerged that President Hakainde Hichilema planned to receive it upon arrival against the late leader's wishes.

In response, Hichilema cut short an extended period of national mourning for Lungu, whom he replaced in 2021 after winning elections.

Lungu's funeral and burial "will take place here in South Africa, in accordance with the family's wishes for a private ceremony", spokesman Makebi Zulu said in a statement.

"The Lungu family continues to seek peace and unity amongst fellow Zambians during this time," the statement said, thanking the South African government for its "non-interference and respect of the... rights of the family".

The cause of the former president's death at the age of 68 was not announced, but he had been receiving specialised treatment in a clinic in Pretoria, his Patriotic Front party said.

He was elected to lead the copper-rich southern African country in 2015 but lost elections six years later to Hichilema, from the United Party for National Development.

Since then, his wife and children have been charged with corruption and possession of suspected proceeds of crime in what the family has claimed to be part of a political vendetta.

Lungu's daughter, Tasila Lungu, was arrested in February on money laundering charges. She was previously detained alongside her mother and sister on fraud charges in 2024.

Her brother, Dalitso, is also facing corruption charges.

Zambia lifts mourning for late president in funeral row

An initial seven days of mourning for Lungu was extended by another nine days to end on June 23, the day after the government had scheduled a state funeral for.

But Hichilema ended the period of mourning four days early on Thursday in reaction to the family's refusal to allow the body to return.

Zambia's president cut short a period of national mourning for his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, on Thursday after the late leader's family refused to allow the body to be repatriated, escalating a row over his funeral.

In a televised evening address to the nation, Hichilema said Zambia was "surprised" that Lungu's body was "not availed by the family for repatriation".

He apologised to South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa for the "unfortunate impasse".

"Given these circumstances, I wish to inform the nation that as of the end of today... this particular national mourning period is over," he said. "This will allow the country to begin to return to some normalcy."

An initial period of mourning of seven days was extended by another nine days to end on June 23, the day after the government programme had scheduled for a state funeral.

During this period, entertainment events were suspended and radio stations were obliged to play solemn music, while flags were at half-mast.

Lungu family spokesman Makebi Zulu said Wednesday the family had not agreed to the government's funeral programme, including that Hichilema should receive the body. He said Lungu had made clear before he died that he did not want Hichilema present, news reports said.

"It is our hope that someday his remains will be repatriated back home and buried," Zulu said.