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The Zambian government has confirmed that the remains of former President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, are now officially in its custody, following a reported formal transfer ordered by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria earlier today.
In a press statement dated 22 April 2026, Mulilo Kabesha, Attorney General of the Republic of Zambia, announced that the court had “formally transferred the mortal remains of the Sixth Republican President… to the Zambian Government.”
Kabesha explained that this development followed the failure by the late president’s family to proceed with their case before the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, causing their appeal bid to lapse.
As a result, South African authorities are said to have moved the remains from Two Mountains Burial Services (PTY) Limited to a government-managed facility, where they have now been handed over to Zambia.
Quoting directly from the Attorney General’s statement:
“The Government of the Republic of Zambia wishes to confirm that the High Court in Pretoria has today, Wednesday 22nd April 2026, formally transferred the mortal remains of the Sixth Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to the Zambian Government.”
“This development follows the former President’s family’s inability to proceed with their case before the South African Supreme Court of Appeal. The mortal remains of the former President have since been relocated from Two Mountains Burial Services (PTY) Limited to a facility managed by the South African Government.”
“In its 8th August 2025 ruling, the Pretoria High Court directed that the body be released to the Zambian Government to facilitate preparations for repatriation and burial in Zambia.”
“In line with the court’s directive, the Government will engage with the former President’s family to finalize burial arrangements. The nation will be informed of the agreed-upon details in due course.”
Earlier reports and controversy over whereabouts
The confirmation by the Zambian government follows earlier reports by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which indicated that authorities had begun executing the August 2025 Pretoria High Court judgment allowing Zambia to repatriate the former president’s remains.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn after Diamond TV reported that the body had allegedly gone missing in South Africa.
Family spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, claimed that the remains were moved from Two Mountains Funeral Parlour by South African police and unidentified individuals to an unknown location. He stated that the family had no knowledge of the body’s whereabouts and would provide further details.
Repatriation process still unclear
While the Attorney General’s statement confirms that the remains are now in the possession of the Zambian government, questions remain regarding the sequence of events leading to the transfer and the earlier claims of the body being moved to an undisclosed location.
Former President Lungu, who died on 5 June 2025 in South Africa, has not yet been buried due to a prolonged dispute between his family and the government.
With the court order now executed, attention shifts to the repatriation process and burial arrangements, which the government says will be finalized in consultation with the family and communicated to the nation in due course.
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