Mental torture of Lungu family continues
By Mast Reporter
THE burial of Zambia’s former president Edgar Lungu may not take place until August, over a month from now, after the United Party for National Development (UPND) government stopped his traumatised family from putting his remains to rest in South Africa through a court injunction yesterday.
The fierce moral and legal battle the UPND government has waged to hijack the repatriation and burial of former president Edgar Lungu from his family under the guise of state obligations entered a new phase with a South African court halting the process at the 11th hour as the funeral church service was on.
The Zambian government has sued Lungu’s family requesting the South African High Court in Pretoria to stop his burial in that country so that t hey are buried in Zambia.
Zambians were left dumbfounded and in more anguish when the judge ordered that the burial, which was scheduled to take place in Johannesburg yesterday, could not take place until the case is settled.
Hundreds of Zambians, including high-profile politicians, lawyers, opposition party members and other sympathisers had travelled to Johannesburg by air and road to attend the burial.
A requiem mass for the late Lungu celebrated by Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Berea-Johannesburg, Hillbrow, Johannesburg, which was scheduled to precede the burial, had to proceed without Lungu’s body heightening the sense of frustration and grief among the mourners and clergymen.
The judge ordered that only members of Lungu’s family or their agents will be allowed to see his body.
“This matter will be heard as a special motion on the 4th of August, 2025.
Only the first seven respondents are permitted to visit and or inspect and or allow further individuals to visit and or inspect the body of the late president.
That is the order of the court.”
He said after a discussion “about this serious matter” and reaching an agreement as to how the legal process would go forward should the parties not reach an agreement.
“And I think since the public has got an interest in this matter, I’ll read the order that I make in respect of this matter. By agreement between the parties, an order is made in the following terms. The first to seventh respondents undertake not to proceed with the funeral and or burial of the late president pending the finalisation of the application,” the judge said.
He said if any party wished to intervene in the application, they were to file their notice of motion and founding affidavit and or any answering affidavit on or before July 18.
If any party wishes to be joined in this application as an amicus curiae, such party is to file its notice of motion and founding affidavit on or before the 18th of July, 2025. The notice to oppose is to be filed by the respondents on or the notice of motion is to be filed by the respondents or any party who’s got an interest in this matter on or before the 30th of June, 2025.”
On behalf of the Zambian government Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has sued Lungu’s widow Esther Lungu, his sister, children and the family’s spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, as well as the private mortuary where Lungu’s body is being kept.
