State media reported that the Zambian government has filed an emergency case in the South African court in an attempt to prevent the burial of former President Edgar Lungu.
This is the latest twist between the government and the Lungu family, as the family chooses to hold private ceremonies in South Africa rather than statewide funerals at home.
National Broadcasting Corporation ZNBC reported that the Zambia Attorney General has asked the court to stop the funeral, which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday until the dispute is resolved.
Local media quoted the family as saying that the funeral will be as planned because they did not accompany the court documents.
The dispute comes after a long dispute between Lungu and his successor, Hakainde Hichilema, who said his will suggest that Hichilema should not attend his funeral.
After Lungu's death, the family wanted to be in charge of funeral arrangements, including the repatriation of his dead South African body, but Zambian authorities tried to control it.
The government and his family later agreed that he would hold a state funeral before the breakdown with the exact arrangement, prompting the family to choose a funeral in South Africa.
After that, President Xixilema argued that as former President Longuo “belongs to the Zambian country” and should be buried in the country.
Zambia Attorney General Mulilo d Kabesha reportedly argued in court documents that the state funeral was a formal public event aimed at honoring people of national significance.
He is suing the family, which includes former First Lady Esther Lungu and four children, family lawyer Makebi Zulu and the funeral home where the body is located.
He believes that his aspirations should not be taken as an example by founding President Kenneth Kaunda and should not transcend the greater public interest.
In 2021, Kaunda's family said he wanted to be placed next to his wife, rather than a government-designated location.
However, the government continued to bury Kaunda in the Lusaka Embassy Memorial Park.
A row at the current funeral of Lungu emphasizes the tension between him and his successor, who plays a role in life and continues even in death.
When Lungu was president, Hichilema was imprisoned for more than 100 days on treason for treason because Hichilema's convoy allegedly refused to give way for him.
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