The legal battle over the burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu resumed today in the Pretoria High Court, after a previous postponement aimed at giving the Lungu family and the Zambian government space to negotiate a settlement.
The hearing, initially delayed on Friday, August 15, was expected to lead to possible progress on repatriating Lungu’s remains for a state funeral in Zambia. However, sources close to the matter suggest that settlement talks have stalled, forcing the case back into court.
The Lungu family continues to oppose the repatriation order, citing political tensions and insisting that the late president’s final wish was to be buried in South Africa, where he passed away.
The case has sparked significant public interest and diplomatic sensitivity, as it raises complex questions around state authority, family rights, and the handling of high-profile political figures in exile.
With no agreement yet in sight, the court is once again tasked with navigating legal, political, and ethical dilemmas — while the late president’s body remains in limbo.
