The family of Zambia’s late former President Edgar Lungu has blocked the return of his body from South Africa, citing disagreements with the government over funeral arrangements.
The body was scheduled to arrive in Lusaka on Wednesday aboard a private charter plane after days of negotiations. However, the family’s spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, said the government breached key agreements and released a funeral programme without consulting them.
Mr. Zulu expressed doubt that the government would honour its commitments, announcing that the remains would not be repatriated as planned. The delay marks the second time the family has refused to return the body amid growing tensions over control of the funeral.
President Hakainde Hichilema was expected to receive the body at Lusaka’s airport before it was to lie in state at Lungu’s residence ahead of a state funeral scheduled for 22 June and burial the following day.
The opposition Patriotic Front, led by Lungu until his death, supports the family’s position, accusing the government of politicising the mourning process.
Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, died earlier this month in South Africa, where he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. Zambia is observing a 16-day national mourning period.
According to the family, Lungu had instructed that President Hichilema, his political rival, should not be near his body. However, a deal was reportedly reached allowing Hichilema to preside over the state funeral.
Lungu lost the 2021 election to Hichilema and was later barred by the Constitutional Court from running again, having served the maximum two terms.
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