Zambian Government Accepts Court Decision on Lungu’s Final Resting Place
Published on June 24, 2026 at 10:55 AM by Edgar Naitha
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, overturning a previous Gauteng High Court decision that had ordered the repatriation of his remains to Zambia.
The court upheld the family’s appeal, set aside the lower court’s order, and dismissed the Zambian government’s application to return Lungu’s body for a state funeral.
As a result, Lungu’s remains will remain in South Africa, raising the possibility that he could be buried there.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, has confirmed that the government will not challenge the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling.
The decision brings an end to the legal battle over the former president’s final resting place and clears the way for the family to determine the next steps regarding his burial.
