Court allows former Zambian President Edgar Lungu to be buried in South Africa

South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that former Zambian President Edgar Lungu can be buried in South Africa, siding with his family in a long-running dispute with the Zambian government over his final resting place.

Tuesday's ruling overturns an earlier court decision that blocked a private burial and ordered Lungu's remains returned to Zambia. Judges said the right to decide how and where a loved one is buried rests primarily with the family.

Lungu's family has opposed plans for a state funeral in Zambia, citing the late leader's political differences with President Hakainde Hichilema and saying that Lungu did not want Hichilema to be at his funeral or "anywhere near" his body. The dispute has left Lungu unburied for more than a year since his death in South Africa in June 2025.

In a statement, Zambia said it disagreed with the ruling but would not pursue any further legal action, describing the matter as a private family issue.

Lungu served as Zambia's president from 2015 to 2021. His political rivalry with Hichilema shaped Zambian politics for years, with the two facing each other in multiple elections. Hichilema eventually defeated Lungu in the 2021 presidential election.

The court decision ends months of legal and political wrangling over the former president's burial as Zambia prepares for elections in August.