In an unprecedented move underscoring deep political tensions in Zambia, the family of former President Edgar Lungu has announced that he will be buried in South Africa, following a bitter standoff with the government of current President Hakainde Hichilema.
The decision to hold the burial abroad marks a historic first for Zambia, where former heads of state have traditionally been laid to rest with full state honours on home soil.
However, political acrimony between Lungu and Hichilema — long-time rivals in Zambian politics — has cast a long shadow over funeral arrangements.
BBC News first reported that the late president’s family firmly requested that President Hichilema not attend the funeral.
They argued that the former leader, who died earlier this week, deserved a send-off free from political posturing, choosing instead a “private and dignified” burial in Johannesburg.
Planned repatriation of Lungu’s body to Lusaka for a state funeral scheduled for Sunday has now been cancelled.
In response, President Hichilema’s government called off a period of national mourning late Thursday, acknowledging the family’s decision to keep the proceedings out of the public and political spotlight.
“The family has made it clear that the late president will be buried with dignity and peace, away from the political divisions that marked his final years,” a family spokesperson said in Johannesburg.
The burial in South Africa, at a date yet to be confirmed, is set to be a subdued affair compared to the state funeral initially envisioned in Zambia’s capital.
Lungu’s tenure as president, which ended in 2021, was marked by both popular support and widespread criticism, including accusations of authoritarianism and economic mismanagement — legacies that still polarise public opinion.
As Zambia navigates this unusual chapter in its democratic history, questions persist about national unity and how the country honours its past leaders in an increasingly divided political climate.
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