DID YOU KNOW? Zambia’s Sixth President Who Died Is Yet to Be Buried, Eight Months and Counting

It has now been about eight months since Zambia lost its sixth President, Edgar Changwa Lungu (ECL), yet his remains are still lying in a mortuary in South Africa, with no burial date confirmed. 

The unusual situation has drawn attention across the region, raising questions about politics, culture, and how societies handle death and disagreement.

Edgar Lungu, a lawyer by profession and former head of state, died on June 5, 2025, at the age of 68 while in South Africa. 

Since then, plans to return his body home for burial have been delayed due to a dispute between the Zambian government and the Lungu family over how the funeral should be conducted.

At the center of the disagreement is a sensitive personal wish reportedly expressed by the late president before his death. 

According to family members, Lungu indicated that in the event of his passing, his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, should not be anywhere near his body. The family has insisted that this wish must be respected as part of honoring his final requests.

However, the government has maintained that, as a former head of state, Lungu deserves a state burial in Zambia in line with national tradition and protocol. 

Authorities have also emphasized that state funerals normally involve the sitting president, making it difficult to meet the family’s demands while still observing established procedures.

Preparations for burial had already begun in Lusaka, where an open tomb was reportedly dug at Embassy Park, a site where other former leaders have been laid to rest. 

Despite these preparations, the remains have not yet been repatriated, leaving the country in a prolonged period of waiting and uncertainty.

The matter has now moved into the legal arena. The Lungu family filed a case in South Africa challenging a High Court decision that allowed the repatriation of his body to Zambia. 

The case is currently before South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal, whose ruling is expected to determine whether the remains will be released for burial in Zambia or handled differently.

This prolonged delay has sparked conversations not only in Zambia but also across Africa. Many people are asking what such a situation says about society, especially in cultures where burial is considered an important and often urgent rite of passage. 

In many African traditions, delays in burial are rare and often seen as deeply distressing for families and communities.

Religious perspectives have also been part of the discussion. Zambia is widely known as a Christian nation, and Christian teachings often emphasize peace, reconciliation, and respect for the dead. 

Some observers have argued that the ongoing dispute highlights how political differences can sometimes extend beyond life, affecting even the dignity of final rites.

Others, however, see the situation as a reminder of the importance of dialogue and compromise. They believe both the government and the family are acting based on principles they consider important—national tradition on one side and personal wishes on the other.

For now, Zambia continues to wait for a resolution that will allow the former president to be laid to rest. Until then, the story remains one of the most unusual and emotional post-presidential chapters in the region’s recent history.

What do you think this long delay in burial says about leadership, family wishes, and national traditions in Africa today?