The Lungu family says it is ready to bury the late Edgar Lungu if President Hakainde Hichilema steps aside.

The family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has asked the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the Pretoria High Court decision to deny them permission to appeal against the earlier lower court ruling over the repatriation of the body.

Today marks exactly three months since the death of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, but his burial remains uncertain. Lungu had been in South Africa for a routine medical check-up since January, when news of his death broke on 5 June.

The South African Constitutional Court has rejected an application for a direct appeal that was recently lodged by the late Edgar Lungu's family.

However, the Zambian government has insisted on dialogue with the family in light of a balanced burial programme.

The Pretoria High Court has indefinitely adjourned the hearing of the leave to appeal, where the family had made an application to be heard following their failure to accept the judgement that was passed to allow the Zambian government to repatriate and bury the remains of the late Edgar Lungu in Zambia.

The main case in which the Zambian government wants the family of the late former President Edgar Lungu to hand over his body was postponed in the Pretoria High Court in South Africa.

The Court has since adjourned the matter for judgement before Friday.

Zambia's Attorney General has demanded access to the late Edgar Lungu's body for identification and authentication purposes.

Mulilo Kabesha, through the lawyers representing the state in South Africa, has warned that failure to grant access will prompt them to seek an order from the Pretoria High Court.

Speaker of the National Assembly in Zambia, Nellie Mutti, has ordered that the daughter of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, Tasila Lungu, an elected Member of Parliament, should appear before her office 14 days after the burial of her father; failure to do so would see her lose her seat. 

The Speaker of the National Assembly in Zambia, Nelly Mutti, has reserved a ruling on a point of order regarding the elective parliamentary seat belonging to Tasila Lungu, the daughter of the late former president of Zambia.

Zambia's Government Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, says it should be presumed that acceptance of conditions under the Former President Benefits Act by Edgar Lungu means he intended to be given a state funeral in accordance with Zambian customs and traditions.