South African Government Investigating Allegations of Lungu Poisoning

 

South African police have initiated an investigation into allegations that former Zambian President Edgar Lungu may have been poisoned prior to his death, reopening a matter that has remained unresolved nearly a year after his passing and amid an ongoing legal dispute over his burial.

Mr Lungu died in South Africa on June 5, 2025. His remains have not yet been interred as court proceedings continue between the Zambian government and his family regarding funeral arrangements and the custody of his body. The latest development introduces a further legal dimension to an already protracted and politically sensitive impasse.

The renewed scrutiny follows earlier public remarks by Patriotic Front official Raphael Nakachinda, who stated in a televised interview that the possibility of foul play could not be excluded. Mr Nakachinda indicated at the time that only investigations would establish whether the former president died of natural causes or as a result of poisoning.

Lawyers representing the Lungu family have firmly dismissed the allegations. In correspondence dated February 11, 2026, Machele Attorneys described the poisoning claims as speculative and unsupported by credible evidence, maintaining that Mr Lungu’s death was due to natural causes.

The family’s legal team further confirmed that South African authorities had issued a subpoena to Two Mountains Funeral Services, the facility currently holding the remains, directing that the body be released into the custody of the South African Police Service. According to the lawyers, the directive raises serious legal concerns in light of existing court orders governing custody of the remains.

They state that current court directives place possession and control of the body with the funeral home pending the finalisation of all legal proceedings. Leave to appeal has already been granted by the Supreme Court of Appeal, rendering the matter active before the courts.

The legal representatives cautioned that, absent a fresh judicial order authorising the removal of the remains, no party is lawfully entitled to act contrary to the standing court orders. They further indicated that the family would pursue appropriate legal remedies should any action be taken in defiance of the court’s authority.

The development has reignited debate in both Zambia and South Africa, particularly regarding the timing of the investigation. Observers have questioned why law-enforcement attention has intensified several months after the former president’s death, especially given that similar allegations were raised publicly soon after he passed away.

The unresolved burial of Zambia’s sixth Republican President continues to draw national attention. Each new development underscores the absence of closure in the funeral of a former head of state, a situation that has remained a source of division.

Family spokesperson Makebi Zulu has previously addressed speculation surrounding the remains, stating that only a limited number of individuals have viewed the body and reiterating that Mr Lungu is deceased. He has consistently dismissed contrary claims as false.

The dispute over burial arrangements has been marked by sustained mistrust between the family and the state, extending beyond questions of legal custody to broader issues of protocol and attendance. Among the points of contention is whether President Hakainde Hichilema should attend any burial proceedings, a matter the family has previously opposed.

Attempts at mediation — including efforts by religious leaders, regional figures and former heads of state — have not produced consensus, leaving the matter squarely before the courts.

With appeals pending and legal positions entrenched, the question of whether South African authorities may examine the remains will ultimately be determined judicially. Until such determination is made, the former president’s body will remain in its current custody, and the issues surrounding his death and burial will continue to await resolution.