South African Court Denies Lungu Family's Appeal Over Burial Dispute

A South African court has rejected the appeal by Edgar Lungu's family to allow his burial in South Africa, asserting Zambia's right to manage the burial of its former president. The legal and political tensions involved highlight the complexities surrounding state funeral arrangements and cross-border diplomatic sensitivities.

A South African court has dismissed an appeal by the family of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, who sought to bury him in South Africa rather than Zambia. The Pretoria High Court affirmed Zambia's right to state handling of its ex-leader's funeral.

Edgar Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 until 2021, passed away in June while receiving treatment in a South African hospital. His family desired his burial in South Africa and wished to exclude current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema from participating in a state funeral.

The court ruled no grounds existed for a successful appeal. Lungu and Hichilema shared a fraught political history, intensified by allegations of political harassment and restricted movements, underscoring the dispute's contentious nature.

(With inputs from agencies.)