The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has dismissed, with costs, the Lungu family’s application for leave to appeal against its earlier ruling that the Zambian government has the right to repatriate the late former President Edgar Lungu’s body for a state funeral and burial.
The family had argued that the dispute over the former leader’s remains raised critical legal questions warranting consideration by the Supreme Court of Appeal. They may still petition the SCA directly, and if unsuccessful, pursue the matter further at the Constitutional Court.
Edgar Lungu, who served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021, rose from a background in law and politics to become a key figure in the country’s leadership. Initially appointed defence minister, he succeeded the late President Michael Sata and went on to win two presidential elections. His tenure was marked by promises of economic growth and infrastructure development, though critics accused his government of corruption, mismanagement, and a heavy reliance on Chinese loans that deepened the nation’s debt crisis.
Lungu also faced growing opposition during his presidency, with tensions escalating over concerns about shrinking democratic space and press freedoms. After losing the 2021 election to Hakainde Hichilema, he initially stepped back from politics but later remained an influential voice in Zambia’s political scene.
