What’s likely to happen, regarding the Lungu family’s application for leave to appeal the Pretoria High Court’s ruling:
By Michael Lombe
What’s Already Happened
On August 8, 2025, the Pretoria High Court delivered its judgment in favor of the Government of Zambia, affirming that state funeral protocol and public interest override any personal burial wishes. The court ordered the immediate repatriation of Edgar Lungu’s remains for a state funeral in Lusaka . The Lungu family has since filed an application for leave to appeal that decision .
What’s Likely to Happen Next
1. High Bar for Appeal
The High Court will grant leave to appeal only if the family demonstrates that the case raises a reasonable prospect of a different outcome, or that there are significant legal issues warranting reconsideration .
2. Strong Legal Precedent and Public Interest
The ruling was grounded in constitutional and public policy considerations, emphasizing that the needs of the nation trump private preference in cases involving former heads of state. Courts tend to uphold such rulings unless there’s a compelling legal or factual error.
3. Political and Diplomatic Considerations
The court’s emphasis on state protocol and public interest suggests that an appeal would face steep challenges, both legally and politically.
Summary of Likely Outcome
While the Lungu family is entitled to appeal, the likelihood of success is slim given:
The court explicitly declared public interest overrides personal wishes for state burials.
The decision drew upon strong precedent (e.g., the burial of President Kenneth Kaunda) and constitutional authority.
Appeals in similar circumstances are rarely granted absent a major legal misstep.
In effect, unless the family presents new compelling legal arguments or evidence, the High Court’s ruling is expected to stand, and the application for appeal will likely be denied.
This LUNGU family are milking chagwas death. The whole lot of them are rotten to the core
They should all be put I to prison and throw the keys away
Tasila is supposed to represent her constituency but she is only at tax payers money….what a slapper
One wonders if the Lungu family is under a ransom threat, hence this strange behavior from the onset of this fiasco. The resistance and arrogance are just stunning!
This is what a reasoned argument should look like.
In fact, the court is being nice, next it will say wrong court, the president just came for medical reasons, go sue in Zambia. In short, SA court may not even have no jurisdiction over the former president case.