Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, who died on June 5, will be buried in South Africa, his family said on Friday, June 20. This came two days after the family cancelled the repatriation of Lungu's remains amid a stand-off with the Zambian government over funeral programme. ALSO READ: Funeral row delays repatriation of former Zambian president’s body The family said Lungu will be laid to rest in Johannesburg in a private farewell. He will be the first foreign president to be buried in South Africa. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema abruptly ended the mourning period announced after his predecessor died in a South African hospital due to an undisclosed illness. Lungu's body was due to return home to Zambia this week for a procession ahead of a rescheduled state funeral on Monday, but the family postponed the repatriation before cancelling it again on Wednesday. ALSO READ: Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu dead Lungu, who was 68, was to be honored with a state funeral, which Hichilema would preside over. His family said, however, that it was Lungu’s wish that Hichilema “should not be anywhere near” his body when he is buried. The two figures had been political rivals for years. Hichilema had offered his condolences to the family and said it should be a time for the country to show unity. Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 election. Hichilema was then imprisoned for four months in 2017 and accused of treason by Lungu’s government for his motorcade not giving way to Lungu’s on a road. Their rivalry continued in the 2021 presidential election, which was won by Hichilema. Last year, Lungu, who remained influential in politics, accused Hichilema’s government of using the police to harass him and restrict his movements. His family also said the government initially prevented him from traveling to South Africa for treatment, a charge the government denied.
