Desecration of Lungu's body sparks diplomatic protest to Ramaphosa

Former Zambian ambassador to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba, has written to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressing concern over what he describes as the "desecration" of the remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, whose body remains at the centre of a prolonged legal and family dispute nearly 11 months after his death.

In the letter, Mwamba alleges that Lungu's body was removed from a Johannesburg funeral facility on 22 April 2026 by individuals identifying themselves as Zambian officials and members of the South African Police Service, citing a Gauteng High Court order that authorised repatriation of the remains to Zambia for a state funeral.

He claims the removal was done without the consent of the Lungu family and despite ongoing legal proceedings, including an appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal and a separate application in the Randburg Magistrate's Court.

Mwamba further alleges that the body was later taken to Tshwane Forensic Services in Pretoria, where a post-mortem examination was conducted without the presence or consent of the family, despite a subsequent court order instructing that the remains be returned to funeral custody.

He argues that these actions violated court processes, cultural practices and the rights of the deceased's family, and accuses authorities of disregarding judicial instructions issued after the disputed removal.

The Zambian government has maintained that it is pursuing a lawful state funeral process, while the family has insisted on its right to determine burial arrangements, creating an ongoing legal and diplomatic standoff.

The matter has now escalated into a cross-border controversy, with Mwamba calling for clarification from the South African government over the handling of the former president's remains and the enforcement of court orders in the dispute.