You can’t inspect ECL remains

By NATION REPORTER

TWO Mountains Burial Services has rejected the Zambian government’s demand to inspect and view the body of late former President Edgar Lungu, stating that it will not make any disclosure of any related documentation, including reports from the pathologist or that of the embalmer without express written consent.
Two Mountains Burial Services, the facility currently keeping the remains of former President Lungu has stated that it will not permit the Zambian government to inspect the body of the former head of State without written consent or indeed a court order.
The facility has also rejected the Zambian government’s request for the commissioning of a pathologist and an embalmer and to have access to their reports without express written authorization.
The Zambian government had written to Two Mountains demanding to gain access to the remains of former President Lungu, with the intention of viewing and inspecting to authenticate its identity.
But the facility has now told the Zambian government that: “We can confirm that our contractual obligations, professional duties and confidentiality are owed to our client, the Lungu family, being the First to Seventh respondents. We also confirm we are fully aware of and will continue to comply with, the Honourable Court’s order dated 25 June and 2 July 2025. Accordingly, we will not permit any inspection of the body or disclosure of any related documentation, including any pathologist or embalmer report, without your client\’s prior consent or an order of court, a letter addressed to VFV Attorneys, the lawyers representing the Zambian government reads.
The Zambian government on 12 August 2025 wrote to Two Mountains demanding that the facility should provide a complete report by a pathologist and an embalmer.
The Zambian government also demanded a pathologist be instructed to report on the identification and current condition of the body of former President Lungu as well as the preservation methods being used.
“Given the sensitivities involved and the importance of ensuring the dignity of the deceased, we request that this be dealt with as a matter of the greatest urgency, THE Zambian government demanded through its lawyers, VFV Attorneys.
But the family of former President Lungu through its lawyers told Two Mountains that it was the family of the former head of State who had lawfully taken the remains of former President Lungu to the facility and the government was never entrusted with the remains.
“Our client is the sole party vested with the legal right and authority to instruct on the handling and care of the body, to authorize an inspection of the body, and to request or approve the disclosure of any related documents. This includes, but is not limited to, the pathologist’s report and the embalming certificate,” the lawyers to the family of former President Lungu stated.
“Any examination of the body, or disclosure of related documents, to a third party without client’s prior express written consent will constitute a breach of your contractual obligations, a breach of the common-law duty of confidentiality, and a potential contravention of the Protection of Personal Information,” the Lungu family said.
The family of former President Lungu stated that it was cognizant of the potential for deterioration of the body over time, stating that it was placing it on record that Two Mountains had advised that the body, being embalmed, could be preserved for a period of up to eight months.
“Be guided that, notwithstanding this information, the family does not intend to delay matters for such a duration and wishes the process to be concluded without delay. You are therefore expressly instructed not to permit any disclosure or release of any related documentation to the applicant or any other unauthorized party, unless directed in writing or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction,” the Lungu family said.