Edgar Lungu's family says court erred in its judgment after ordering that he be buried in Zambia

JOHANNESBURG - The family of Zambia’s former president Edgar Lungu said that the Pretoria High Court erred in its judgment, which ordered that he be buried in Lusaka.

The Lungu family has filed court papers challenging the high court’s judgment.

They have asked for leave to appeal the decision in the supreme court.

On Friday, Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba ruled in favour of the Zambian government that Lungu’s body be repatriated to Lusaka for burial.

Lungu's family was visibly distraught as the Pretoria High Court ruled in the Zambian government's favour that his remains should be repatriated to Zambia.

In its court papers, the family argued that the court got it wrong when it found that there was a valid agreement with the state for the former president’s remains to be repatriated for burial at the Embassy Park presidential burial site in Lusaka.

They said the court should have found that the government acted in bad faith when it misrepresented to the family that President Hakainde Hichilema, who was Lungu’s political rival, would not take part in his funeral.

The family said that the Pretoria High Court erred when it allowed Hichilema to preside over Lungu’s funeral, ignoring his wishes.

The Lungu now wants the matter before a supreme court bench.