South African Correspondent
JOHANNESBURG – Two Mountains Funeral Services, the South African company entrusted with the remains of late Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has raised serious concerns over the potential deterioration of his body due to prolonged storage caused by ongoing legal disputes delaying his burial.
In a letter dated 11 August 2025 addressed to both the Lungu family and the Zambian government, the company’s Legal Department representative Johan Furstenberg warned that while the body remains preserved for now, extended storage increases risks of visible deterioration.
“Although the late president’s body is embalmed and in good condition, preserved in line with standard operating procedures, long-term storage may eventually result in visible signs of deterioration,” Furstenberg stated in the correspondence seen by Zim GBC News.
The funeral company has particularly urged both parties to treat the matter as urgent “to avoid any adverse impact on the dignity of the deceased given the sensitivity of the matter.”
Furstenberg further disclosed that the company is considering engaging a pathologist and embalmer to provide expert opinion on the expected condition of the body under prolonged storage, but is seeking clarity on whether associated costs would be reimbursed by both disputing parties.
Former President Lungu died on 5 June 2025, and his remains have been stored in South Africa for over two months pending resolution of legal battles between his family and the Zambian government regarding his final resting place.
Zim GBC News | Global News From An African Perspective©2025