By Ollus Ndomu
The burial of Zambia’s Sixth President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has been suspended following a dramatic courtroom showdown in Pretoria this morning. What began as a solemn day of mourning ended in legal restraint, public emotion, and a nation still grappling with how to say goodbye to one of its most polarizing leaders.
By sunset, it was official: the South African High Court halted all burial plans, giving Zambia’s Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha until July 3 to submit arguments for repatriation, with the Lungu family to respond by July 4. The final ruling is now expected on August 4, while allowing for an out-of-court settlement.
Kabesha: “This is Not About Winning”
In media interviews throughout the day, Attorney General Kabesha tried to cool rising tensions. He emphasized that the lawsuit isn’t about power, but about national dignity, public order, and fulfilling the state’s duty under the Former Presidents’ Benefits Act.
“This is not ‘we must win at all cost.’ No. The best outcome is consensus; that by tomorrow we agree and bring the body home,” Kabesha told ZNBC.
“The late President is not a refugee. He deserves to be buried in the land he led.”
On Hot FM, he doubled down:
“We’ve tried to negotiate. It failed. We are not fighting anyone, we are defending the dignity of this country.”
Kabesha’s calm tone contrasted with the emotionally charged remarks from the Lungu family’s lawyer and spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, who emerged from court with sharp words for the government.
Makebi Zulu: “They Betrayed Him in Life, Now They Pretend in Death”
Makebi Zulu framed today’s suspension not as a loss, but as a turning point, a chance to “tell the Lungu story.”
“This is an opportunity to narrate the life of a man betrayed by the system,” Zulu said.
“Now in death, they want to pretend they cared. Edgar Chagwa Lungu refuses to go down without the truth being told.”
Zulu added that the family believes President Hakainde Hichilema is unfit to oversee the burial, accusing the government of hypocrisy and political staging.
“Those who loved him want a dignified sendoff. President Hichilema cannot offer that.”
Banda’s Homily: Reverence and Reactions
At the Christ the King Cathedral in Johannesburg, where former First Lady Esther Lungu attended the Requiem Mass, Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda delivered a homily that has stirred both comfort and controversy.
Describing Lungu as “the people’s president,” Banda painted a portrait of humility and generosity:
“He would empty his pockets for the vulnerable. He was sociable, approachable… a true believer in God.”
Banda praised Lungu’s peaceful transfer of power in 2021 and his post-office restraint. But some critics on social media noted Banda’s silence during Lungu’s controversial moments in office, sparking heated threads online. “Selective memory,” one user posted. “Where was this voice during gassing and shootings?”
Tayali, Chiefs, and the Ground Swell
Earlier in the day, opposition political provocateur Chilufya Tayali threw his weight behind President Hichilema:
“WHICHEVER WAY THIS ONE GOES, I WANT TO SALUTE PRESIDENT HICHILEMA FOR FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY AS THE LEADER,” Tayali wrote in a Facebook post.
“It has come to my attention that President Hichilema is not interested in the politics around this issue of the former President Edgar Lungu… but simply wants to give his elder brother a dignified funeral and put him at a resting place where other former Heads of State have been buried.”
Meanwhile, traditional leaders from Eastern Province, Lungu’s homeland, have begun appealing directly to Esther Lungu to withdraw legal objections and allow for repatriation, fearing prolonged court action may tarnish his legacy rather than protect it.
🇿🇲🇿🇦 Two Graves, One Legacy
Tonight, two open graves await one man: one in Johannesburg, where PF officials quietly prepared a private plot, and another at Embassy Park in Lusaka, where the Zambian state has reserved ground among former presidents.
Both graves symbolize more than burial sites. They are political metaphors for division, dignity, and the difficulty of national healing.
And as dusk fell over both capitals, neither side had won, but both had spoken loudly, emotionally, and with historical consequences.
From Courtroom to Chambers
This morning’s legal proceedings raised eyebrows. The court questioned documentation, identity, and medical papers. Reports suggested the late President may have used foreign documents in hospital registration, but those claims were quickly downplayed.
Both parties later agreed to shift discussions to the Judge’s chambers.
🔍 Editorial Note:
This is no longer just a burial. It’s a trial of legacy, patriotism, and public memory.
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