Claim
A video with a caption, “Edgar Lungu’s body repatriation to Zambia under way in South Africa,” has been circulating on both public and closed social media platforms. The video was initially posted on a Facebook page called Zambia Affairz on April 23, 2026, and has since continued to circulate on various online platforms.
In the video, uniformed officers are seen carrying a casket draped in a Zambian flag, and a portrait of former late President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, while sombre music plays in the background. A South African national flag is also visible in the background, giving the impression that the footage shows preparations for the repatriation of the former President’s body from South Africa to Zambia. The link to the circulating video has intentionally been excluded from this report to prevent further amplification and spread of misleading and potentially harmful disinformation.
Verdict: False
A thorough review and analysis conducted by iVerify Zambia has established that the video is fake, as there is no credible evidence that such a repatriation procession ever took place. The repatriation of the former President’s body is tied to the ongoing court dispute between the Zambian government and the family of the Mr. Lungu, over funeral and burial rights.
In addition, neither the government nor the Lungu family has issued any official statement confirming the alleged repatriation of the former President’s body to Zambia for burial. In the absence of any verified announcement or supporting evidence, the circulating video and accompanying claims are false.
Rating Justification
iVerify conducted a fact-check on the video circulating on social media purporting to show the funeral procession and repatriation of former Zambian President, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and established that the claim is false.
The verification process found no official announcement from either the Lungu family spokesperson, Mr. Makebi Zulu, or the Zambian government confirming that the body of the late former President had been repatriated from South Africa to Zambia for burial.
Further analysis of the video revealed several inconsistencies that raise serious doubts about its authenticity. Apart from the clip circulating online, there are no corresponding reports, images, or footage from reputable South African media outlets, despite the fact that these media houses have consistently and extensively covered developments surrounding President Lungu’s death and funeral arrangements.
Additionally, the video lacks basic characteristics commonly associated with credible news coverage. It carries no identifiable media branding, logo, watermark, or attribution that would make it traceable to a recognised media house. Credible media outlets also typically refer to prominent public figures using their full names or official titles, rather than only a first and surname, particularly in sensitive coverage of this nature.
These inconsistencies or missing elements, combined with the absence of corroborating reports from trusted sources, strongly suggest that the video was manipulated, is not authentic and does not depict a genuine funeral procession for the late former President Lungu.
Conclusion
The circulation of misleading or manipulated digital content during moments of national importance, such as a general election, has the potential to confuse the public, undermine trust in credible information, and inflame tensions. As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, it is increasingly important for citizens to verify content before sharing it online. Information should be cross-checked with trusted media outlets, official government communication channels, and credible fact-checking organisations such as iVerify Zambia.
