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The Zambian government has made a dramatic U-turn in its legal bid to repatriate the remains of former President Edgar Lungu, applying to remove the South African government from the court case currently before the High Court in Pretoria.
Attorney-General Mulilo Kabesha listed South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation as the ninth respondent in the burial dispute, but has now asked the court to strike out the Minister from the proceedings.
According to a notice of amendment filed on July 7, 2025, Mr Kabesha no longer seeks to include the Minister as a party to the matter, despite initially citing the official due to their oversight of South Africa’s foreign policy and international cooperation.
“Take notice that the applicant intends to amend the amended notice of motion and supplementary Founding Affidavit dated 2 July 2025 in the manner set out below: 2 1 1. By removing THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION as ninth respondent and by deleting paragraph (a) on the last (signature) page thereof,”
The Attorney-General also asked the court to delete related paragraphs from his original filings, stating that no relief was being sought from the South African government, which had only been cited due to its potential interest in the outcome.
In the ongoing legal battle, Zambia is challenging the Lungu family’s decision to bury the late president in South Africa, insisting that his remains be returned to Lusaka for burial at the Presidential Burial Site at Embassy Park.
Mr Kabesha, has maintained that the Zambian government had the legal authority to repatriate the former Head of smState’s remains.
Unless an objection is raised within 10 days, the court is expected to effect the amendments and proceed without South Africa’s Minister of International Relations as a respondent in the case.
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