Zambia enacts law for former presidential burials amid political tensions

Zambia has enacted the Benefits of Former Presidents and Former Vice-Presidents Act No. 16 of 2026 to resolve legal ambiguities regarding the burial of former heads of state. The legislation mandates that any former president or vice-president who dies must be buried at a site designated by the government within the Republic, with funerals conducted according to state protocols.

The law follows a high-profile dispute involving the late former President Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa in June 2025. The impasse between the Lungu family and President Hakainde Hichilema’s government led to a legal standoff in South African courts after the family refused a state funeral in Lusaka, opting instead for a private burial in South Africa.

In a separate development, the Zambian Catholic Diocese has expressed concern over rising political tensions and the closure of courts following recent elections. Bishop Zumaire has called for a non-partisan dialogue between religious leaders, civil society, and the government to address grievances regarding justice, the rule of law, and the treatment of opposition figures to prevent potential civil conflict.