By Mapaballo Borotho
- Confusion and controversy continue over the whereabouts of Edgar Lungu’s remains.
- While initial reports suggested the body was stolen, it has since been confirmed that the Zambian government has taken it for repatriation.
- The family disputes the process and is seeking the return of his remains as the legal battle continues.
The dispute over the remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has taken a dramatic turn, with his family making explosive allegations against the Zambian government.
The family claims President Hakainde Hichilema intends to use Lungu’s body for ritual purposes, amid an ongoing battle over his burial.
The controversy intensified on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, following reports that Lungu’s body had been stolen, claims that left the former First Lady devastated.
However, it has since been confirmed that the Zambian government has taken custody of Lungu’s remains.
The dispute dates back to August 2025, when the Pretoria High court ruled that the Zambian government could repatriate the body and conduct a state funeral.
This came after the family’s failed appeal against the ruling, which cleared the way for the state to take control of the burial process.
President Hichilema has maintained that Lungu should be given a full state funeral in his home country, despite a long-standing political dispute between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, the Lungu family insists that proper legal processes were not followed and has strongly objected to how the matter has been handled.
Speaking to Kaya News, family spokesperson Kelvin Chishimba said the family does not oppose the repatriation of the body, but remains concerned about the circumstances surrounding its handling.
Lungu died in Pretoria last year after an undisclosed illness, sparking a legal battle that continues to unfold.
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