The bitter feud between Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema and his predecessor who passed on recently in South Africa has carried on even after his death as the deceased president left instructions that Hakainde “should not be anywhere near” his dead body according to a family spokesman.

This has thrown the planned state funeral into disarray, government’s plan to fly his body back home failed over a dispute with the deceased family and his Patriotic Front (PF) party.

The political rivalry which saw Hichilema defeating Lungu in the 2021 election after failing in five previous attempts. Lungu died of an undisclosed illness, but the PF said last week that he had been receiving “specialised treatment” in South Africa.

The PF alleged that Lungu was banned from leaving the country for years and that if he had been allowed to travel to seek medical treatment sooner, he might still be alive.

An allegation the government has denied.

Zambia’s Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe was among government officials who flew to South Africa on Wednesday for talks with Lungu’s widow, Esther, and his influential daughter, Tasila, to break the deadlock over what happens next.

The family lawyer said the family had put in place “all logistics” to fulfil Lungu’s wishes to be given a private funeral and that Hichelema “should not be anywhere near” his body.

The government said that “constructive consultations” were continuing with Lungu’s family to ensure the “smooth repatriation” of his body following a seven-day national mourning period.

The government declared that the official venue for mourning would be a lodge it owns in the capital, Lusaka, but the PF dismissed this plan, directing mourners to its headquarters instead.

Edgar Lungu, served as a two-term president from 2015 to 2021 and was banned from contesting again due to constitution provision. He was aged 68.