Zuko Komisa

Mourners gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King in central Johannesburg were left waiting on Wednesday after the High Court in Pretoria ordered an unexpected halt to the burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu.
This dramatic intervention marks the latest chapter in the extraordinary and ongoing feud between Lungu’s family and his successor, current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
The High Court judge issued the halt following a last-minute request from Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha.
Lungu’s visibly upset wife, Esther Lungu, arrived at the cathedral shortly after the ruling, where a prayer service was held instead of the funeral.
The court has scheduled a full hearing on the matter for 4 August 2025.
Edgar Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa earlier this month at the age of 68 after an undisclosed illness.
His family claims he specifically requested that President Hichilema not attend his funeral, despite the Zambian government’s plans for a state funeral with full military honours.
The ongoing court battle leaves the final resting place of the former Zambian president in limbo.
READ NEXT: ‘You’re attacking an innocent person’ – Stephanie Sandows calls out bullies on social media



