Government to move Lungu’s body to new mortuary on Monday
GOVERNMENT says it will move former president Edgar Lungu’s body to a new mortuary on Monday, following a request by the family to be present during the transfer.
This comes after the Pretoria High Court ordered the Zambian government to pay for a new mortuary where the body will be kept until the matter before the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa is concluded.
In a statement, attorney general Mulilo Kabesha said government and the Lungu family had earlier signed a consent order setting aside the ex parte order issued on April 22, 2026, which had temporarily placed custody of the remains with the family.
“The urgent ex parte Order granted on 22 April 2026 by Honourable Judge Francis Suhbiah has been reviewed and is hereby set aside,” reads part of the consent order.
Kabesha explained that the remains will now be placed in the custody of AVBOB Pretoria East, with all related costs to be covered by the Zambian government, pending the conclusion of the appeal.
“Through their lawyers, Mashele and Company, the family asked that the transfer occurs only on Monday when they are able to be present. By the Consent order signed today the body was to be moved immediately from B3 Undertakers to AVBOB,” he said.
The arrangement also allows the family continued access to the remains as the matter remains before the courts.
Kabesha said government remained open to engagement with the family to reach an amicable resolution and ensure the late former head of state is accorded a dignified burial.
“The government welcomes this development, noting that it has consistently maintained that the situation custody of the remains, never intended to become a dispute over custody of the remains,” he said.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, April 30, 2026
This is not the Judgement I read.
The problem with this Government is that it’s always about Propaganda.
We know what the Court ruled.
The Urgent Exparte Order obtained on 22nd April, 2025 has been set aside.
The Gauteng High Court Judgment in force pending conclusion of appeal in the Supreme Court.
The Body to be moved to a Mortuary as per Court Order. There’s no mention of the Government of the Republic of Zambia getting possession and moving the body.
The family is to have full control over Access to the body. Any other Party , including GRZ, which wants to access body must notify the family, and get a Court Order to do so.
Thats the judgement I read.
Before the date stamp even dries, Attorney General Kabesha Mulilo is at it again. Next we will hear that he has gone back to Court wanting to access the body.
This government is a problem. Stay put for once.
The former president s remains, slowly but surely coming in the government’s possession. You can talk or say whatever you want, government works slowly but in the sure direction . I just want the former president’s remains to lay at embassy park, he was leader of this country. Whether he was bad or great during his rule, embassy park is neutral and had been made natural by our values and Zambian law.
The core issue here is none has sole possession of the corpse.While the Lungu family have express rights to the corpse,any interested party can also have a access to it by court permission provided that they inform the family.Only that the Zambian government is not interested in accessing it for curiosity but for purposes of finally repatriation for a Presidential burial.It is a win-win situation
The Earlier Agreement of June 2025 between the Government of Zambia and the Lungu family regarding the repatriation of the Remains of the late Dr Edgar Lungu collapsed after government started inserting clauses which were not part of the Agreement.
I have started seeing the same thing being repeated again.
There’s nowhere in the Judgement were it says that the Government of the Republic of Zambia will take possession of the Body and move it from V3 undertakers to AVBOB in Pretoria. NOWHERE!
The Court Judgment is very clear. The only reason the government of the Republic of Zambia has been ordered to pay for the Mortuary fees is because of the requirement of a neutral Court supervised facility , to address the Zambian Government ‘s fears that the Lungus wanted to take the body out of South Africa.
The Gauteng High Court Judgment is in force and the movement will have to be done through the Funeral Parlour in the presence of the Sheriff, Edgar Lungu ‘s ADC and family members.
Whatever Attorney General Kabesha Mulilo is saying is just a figment of his mind.
… Come back home ba Attorney General before you start some more confusion in South Africa.