The South African government has not granted authority for the burial of Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, to be buried in that country.

Instead, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lomola, to consult the Zambian government over the way forward.

The remains of Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, remain in South Africa.

The family announced last Friday that the South African government has not agreed to the idea.

Yesterday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to Zambia to consult the Zambian government over the matter.

"It remains our considered view that the remains of the late former President Lungu should be laid in his home country of birth."

And the Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated his zeal to give his predecessor a befitting send-off in Zambia.

"South Africans and Zambians are one people; we have different laws, but we want to see how we can bridge this and find a solution to this matter."

Meanwhile, the Lungu family have indicated that they are ready for the burial in South Africa on Wednesday.

Senior members of the Patriotic Front, the party he led, left Zambia for South Africa yesterday to attend the purported burial.

With new development, late Lungu's funeral impasse solution is still far-fetched.