By 
Political affairs analyst, Dr. James Musonda, has described as reckless, unreasonable, and costly the Zambian government’s decision to take former President Edgar Lungu’s family to court in South Africa in a bid to halt his burial.
The legal action, reportedly filed by Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha in the Gauteng High Court, seeks to prevent the burial of the late sixth Republican President in South Africa, scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Tuesday, Musonda questioned the rationale behind the move, warning it could further inflame national tensions.
“I hope it is not true. Because if it is, then it is reckless, unreasonable, and costly to undertake such a venture,” he said.
Musonda expressed disappointment that the Hichilema administration allegedly failed to engage the family in good faith before resorting to international litigation.
“The government had cheaper and more reasonable options through dialogue. Instead, it chose to abandon consensus and pursue a manipulative and confrontational route,” he said.
Musonda further criticized the move as embarrassing, especially given the sensitive nature of the matter.
“People have already travelled. This is a time for mourning, not courtroom battles. It’s an unnecessary international spectacle,” he added.
Musonda said he was confident that the South African court would not yield to pressure, warning that the matter risked portraying Zambia as unstable despite claims of returning to normalcy.
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