The recent move by the family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu to challenge the Pretoria High Court’s ruling on his funeral and burial arrangements is not only disappointing but deeply troubling.
Their urgent appeal to override a decision grounded in respect for national heritage and legal propriety reveals a troubling prioritization of personal interests over the collective dignity and identity of Zambia as a nation.
This legal entanglement risks sullying the legacy of a leader who, regardless of political views, served the Republic of Zambia and deserves to be honored accordingly.
Edgar Lungu was not merely a private individual; he was the head of state, a symbol of Zambia’s sovereignty and democratic process. His death is a matter of national significance, transcending family boundaries.
It is therefore imperative that the place and manner of his burial reflect his status as a former president of Zambia, not simply a member of a private family.
The family’s insistence on controlling the burial arrangements exclusively, to the extent of rejecting the participation of the sitting Zambian President and disputing the repatriation of his remains to Zambia, undermines the collective respect owed to a former head of state.
The family’s argument, as outlined in their South African court application, rests on claims that the late president’s wishes were to exclude involvement from the current Zambian leadership and that no binding agreement existed with the government regarding funeral arrangements.
Such a stance not only isolates the burial from its rightful national context but also sidesteps the broader cultural and constitutional considerations that naturally arise in the death of a prominent public figure.
The repatriation and burial of Edgar Lungu in Zambia is more than a personal matter; it is about honoring the nation’s history and providing closure to the Zambian people who regarded him as their leader.
The state, as custodian of national unity and historical memory, has a legitimate and vital interest in ensuring that his burial reflects the respect and dignity befitting a former president.
The family’s attempt to exclude the current President and government officials from the funeral proceedings is misguided and shortsighted.
It risks turning a solemn national event into a divisive spectacle that fractures the unity of the Zambian people.
The funeral of a former president is a moment for national solidarity, celebration of service, and reflection on the country’s journey—not a platform for private disputes or political contention.
The family’s assertion that South African law should govern the burial arrangements because Edgar Lungu passed away in South Africa is a legal oversimplification.
While it is true that the death occurred on foreign soil, the deceased’s nationality, status, and the cultural context of burial customs cannot be dismissed.
International legal principles recognize the importance of respecting a deceased person’s nationality and the relevant cultural and constitutional frameworks of their home country, especially for a figure of Lungu’s stature.
Moreover, the Pretoria High Court’s decision to apply Zambian law and acknowledge the involvement of the Zambian government aligns with these principles.
The family’s appeal overlooks the broader implications of disregarding the deceased’s home country’s legal and cultural context.
This approach risks setting a dangerous precedent whereby the burial of prominent figures could be subject to fragmented legal interpretations that ignore national identity and sovereignty.
The family contends that their constitutional rights to dignity, cultural freedom, and self-determination in matters of death and burial were overlooked.
While individual and familial rights are important, they must be balanced with the collective rights of the nation and the specific role Edgar Lungu played in Zambia’s national life.
Cultural freedom and dignity are inherently collective concepts when it comes to a figure like a former president. The people of Zambia have a stake in how their leaders are memorialized.
The state’s role includes safeguarding these collective cultural rights by ensuring that burial ceremonies conform to national traditions and public expectations.
The ongoing legal battle threatens not only to prolong the family’s grief but also to inflict a lasting wound on Zambia’s national identity and unity.
Edgar Lungu’s legacy should be preserved through a dignified, respectful burial in Zambia—a final resting place where his contributions to the nation are acknowledged by the state and its citizens.
By obstructing these arrangements, the family risks alienating the broader Zambian public and politicizing what should be a unifying event.
The funeral of a former president is an opportunity to transcend political differences, honor public service, and reinforce national cohesion.
The family’s actions, however, risk converting this solemn occasion into a contentious dispute that diminishes the nation’s respect for its own history.
It is imperative that Edgar Lungu be laid to rest in Zambia, in accordance with national laws and customs, with the participation of the sitting President and government officials. This is not only a matter of legal propriety but of moral and cultural responsibility.
The family’s challenge should be reconsidered in light of the greater good—honoring a leader who served his country and ensuring that his burial contributes to Zambia’s historical continuity and national pride.
The late Edgar Lungu was a former President of Zambia, not merely a former member of his family.
His final resting place must reflect the respect and dignity accorded to a national figure, preserving his legacy and serving as a source of unity for all Zambians. Anything less is a disservice to his memory and to the nation he once led.
