Zambia’s former President, Edgar Lungu, passed away at the age of 68, his party announced in a statement. The Patriotic Front (PF) reported he had been receiving specialized medical care in South Africa for an undisclosed illness.
Lungu served as Zambia’s president for six years, from 2015 to 2021. He suffered a significant electoral defeat to current President Hakainde Hichilema in the 2021 election.
Following his electoral loss, he initially withdrew from active politics, but later returned with aspirations to contest the presidency again. However, the Constitutional Court ultimately barred him from running, citing the legal limit of two presidential terms.
In a video message, Lungu’s daughter, Tasila, confirmed his death at a Pretoria clinic at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Thursday. She noted he had been under medical supervision in recent weeks.
She added an emotional statement invoking the national motto, “One Zambia, One Nation,” emphasizing its significance during this period of mourning.
Lungu initially assumed the presidency in January 2015, following the death of Michael Sata, winning a special election. He secured a further five-year term in 2016, receiving over 50% of the vote.
His six-year tenure was marked by economic challenges and high unemployment. The 2021 election resulted in a landslide defeat, with Hichilema winning by nearly a million votes, reflecting widespread public discontent.
Initially retiring from politics after this loss, Lungu re-entered the political arena in 2023 as his successor’s popularity declined, stating his readiness to “fight from the front” for democracy.
A lawyer by profession, Lungu’s political career progressed rapidly. Elected to parliament as a PF MP in 2011, he quickly rose through government ranks, serving as a deputy minister, and later holding ministerial positions in home affairs, defense, and justice.
Born on November 11, 1956, Lungu earned a law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981 and also received military training. His career included positions at Andre Masiye and Company Advocates, Barclays Bank, and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines.
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring
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