The late Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zambia’s sixth Republican President and a towering figure in the country’s recent political history, will be buried in South Africa, after his family declined a state-organised funeral in Zambia. The decision, which has triggered debate across the region, follows a protracted and increasingly public standoff between the Lungu family and the current Zambian administration under President Hakainde Hichilema.
Lungu, who died earlier this month at the age of 68 while receiving medical care in a South African hospital, had faced mounting political tension with the state even after leaving office. In a formal statement released on 20 June 2025, the Lungu family announced that the burial would proceed privately in South Africa.
“The funeral and burial of our beloved Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu will take place here in South Africa, in accordance with the family’s wishes for a private ceremony,” said family spokesperson Hon. Makebi Zulu. The statement further expressed deep appreciation to the South African government for what the family described as its “respectful support and for honouring the family’s decision.”
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support and condolences extended to the family from across the continent and the globe,” the statement read. “Your non-interference and respect of the South African Constitution and rights of the family… is commendable and will give space to mourn and celebrate the life of our loved Edgar Chagwa Lungu in dignity and peace.”
Special mention was given to Minister of International Relations Mr Ronald Lamola, whose personal visit to the family brought condolences on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Although no explicit accusations were made against the Zambian government in the statement, the decision not to repatriate the former president’s body has been interpreted by many observers as a symbolic rebuke of the current political climate in Lusaka. Tensions have existed between Lungu and President Hichilema since well before the latter’s electoral victory in 2021, but they escalated significantly in recent years.
A central flashpoint was the government’s alleged initial refusal to grant Lungu permission to travel abroad for medical treatment—an allegation his family has reiterated, though the state continues to deny it. The Lungu family has also long maintained that the former president and his close associates were targets of political persecution disguised as anti-corruption enforcement. Several members of his family were arrested and interrogated between 2022 and 2024, in what critics have termed lawfare—the use of legal mechanisms to weaken political opponents. While the government has defended these actions as part of a broader transparency and accountability agenda, the former president’s allies saw them as efforts to marginalise him politically.
Even in death, the political polarisation was evident. The family objected to the presence of President Hichilema at any official funeral proceedings, which the government refused to accommodate. The impasse effectively derailed the planning of a state funeral. In a national address on Thursday, President Hichilema cancelled the 16-day national mourning period, saying: “Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning.” He added that the government had done “everything possible to engage the family of our departed sixth Republican President” but had to make a definitive decision. The president also issued a public apology to the Government of South Africa for the inconvenience caused by the standoff.
Lungu’s legacy remains polarising. His presidency (2015–2021) was marked by substantial infrastructure investment, firm stances on security and foreign policy, and strong rural support. At the same time, critics accused his administration of weakening democratic institutions and mismanaging economic policy. Nevertheless, his influence endured even after his electoral defeat, and many within his Patriotic Front party viewed him as a potential unifying candidate for the 2026 general elections.
In their closing remarks, the family made a plea for national reflection, peace, and unity. “The Lungu family continues to seek peace and unity amongst fellow Zambians during this time and thanks all friends, supporters, and members of the public for their understanding, compassion and willingness to mourn the former head of state who, as it has been resolved by the family, will be buried here in Johannesburg, South Africa, at a private funeral.”
Further details about the funeral and burial arrangements will be communicated in due course, according to the statement.
The decision to bury Zambia’s former president abroad may mark the end of his life, but it raises enduring questions about how nations reconcile political rivalry with dignity, especially when legacy, justice, and leadership intersect so uneasily.
