Justice O’ Metre: Recap of cases involving politically-exposed persons, others; April, 2026

April ended on a cautiously optimistic note in the dispute involving the family of late former President Edgar Lungu and the Zambian government, following court intervention in South Africa that signalled a shift toward a more structured, judicially managed process. Across the board, proceedings during the month reflected a justice system grappling with complex questions of procedure, constitutional rights and accountability in sensitive and high-stakes cases. The Pretoria High Court has tightened its grip on the legal battle surrounding the remains of former President Edgar Lungu, placing the matter firmly under judicial supervision.

In a ruling that reset the trajectory of the case, the court ordered that any person seeking access to the body must first obtain a court order, with notice given to the Lungu family. It also set aside an earlier ex parte order that had allowed the release of the body to the family, effectively halting any immediate transfer and restoring judicial control pending an appeal before the Supreme Court of Appeal. To preserve the status quo, the court directed that the remains be placed in the custody of AVBOB Funeral Parlour in Pretoria East, with the Zambian government assuming the costs.

It added that an alternative mortuary would be appointed should AVBOB decline. The ruling followed allegations that the Lungu family had acted outside the court’s earlier directives by instructing the South African Police Service (SAPS) to move the body to a private funeral facility in the East Rand. In challenging the earlier order, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha told the court that it had been obtained without full disclosure.

[paywall]

He argued that the family did not inform the court that SAPS had already taken lawful custody of the body under South Africa’s Inquests Act for forensic purposes, creating what he described as a misleading basis for urgent relief. Kabesha alleged that the family’s actions were inconsistent with a prior court order designating Two Mountains as the official undertaker, suggesting an attempt to bypass established arrangements. He warned that such steps could interfere with the inquest process and undermine judicial oversight, urging the court to retain controlled custody of the remains until all legal and forensic processes are completed.

Inside the Lusaka High Court, the murder trial of IBA Director General Guntila Muleya continues to unfold through a combination of forensic detail and financial evidence, painting a picture of both violence and possible underlying motive. Forensic pathologist Dr Victor Telendiy testified that Muleya might have been assaulted before he was shot, pointing to multiple bruises observed on the body. These included marks on the wrists, lips and lower limbs. “The cause of death was gunshot wounds to the chest and head,” Dr Telendiy said, explaining that each injury was independently fatal.

[/paywall]