• A South African court has halted the burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, scheduled for June 25.
• The Zambian government seeks to repatriate Lungu's body for a state funeral due to political tensions.
• Lungu's family insists on a private burial, citing his expressed wishes and past conflicts with the current president.
• A court hearing is set for August 4 to resolve the outstanding issues.

The burial of Edgar Lungu, the former President of Zambia, has been formally halted by a South African court, just hours before it was supposed to take place in Johannesburg. The Pretoria High Court issued the emergency order following a legal request from the Zambian government, which is demanding that Lungu's body be returned to Zambia for a state funeral in Lusaka, the capital city. This dispute has escalated tensions between Lungu’s family and the Zambian authorities, who argue that he deserves to be honored with national dignity, according to BBC and Africanews.

Zambia's Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, filed the request in court, asserting the need for a state funeral with full military honors, consistent with national protocol. The government's position is that “a person of national significance,” like Lungu, should not only be buried as per personal wishes but with acknowledgment of his contribution to Zambia. In contrast, Lungu's family has expressed their desire for a private burial in South Africa, emphasizing his wishes and past grievances with the current president, Hakainde Hichilema, as critical to their decision, reports Africanews and Reuters.