Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who led the southern African nation from 2015 to 2021, has died at the age of 68.
The Patriotic Front (PF), his political party, announced his death on Thursday, June 6, stating that Lungu had been receiving specialized medical treatment in South Africa for an undisclosed illness. His daughter, Tasila Lungu, confirmed that he passed away at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT) at a clinic in Pretoria.
“In this moment of grief, we invoke the spirit of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ – the timeless creed that guided President Lungu’s service to our country,” she said in an emotional video statement.
Though the nature of his illness remains undisclosed, Lungu had a history of medical issues, including throat surgery a decade ago to treat a narrowing of the oesophagus.
President Hakainde Hichilema, his successor and political rival, offered condolences, urging national unity. “Let us come together as one people, above political affiliation or personal conviction, to honour the life of a man who once held the highest office in our land,” he said.
A Meteoric Political Rise
Born on November 11, 1956, Edgar Lungu graduated with a law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981 and later trained at the Miltez military college in Kabwe. His professional life included stints at Andre Masiye and Company Advocates, Barclays Bank, and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines.
Lungu entered frontline politics in 2011, winning a seat in parliament under the PF banner. He swiftly rose through the ranks, holding portfolios including deputy minister in the vice-president’s office, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Justice.
Following the death of President Michael Sata in 2014, Lungu emerged as the PF’s consensus candidate in a tightly contested internal race. He won the subsequent special presidential election in January 2015, serving out Sata’s term before securing a full five-year mandate in the 2016 general election.
Presidency and Controversies
Lungu’s presidency was defined by strong ties with China, significant infrastructure investments, and mounting economic challenges. Under his leadership, Zambia saw rising debt levels, high unemployment, and inflation, which critics blamed on government mismanagement.
His administration was also marred by allegations of corruption involving close associates and family members, accusations he consistently denied. Human rights groups and opposition parties frequently accused his party’s youth wing of political intimidation and violence.
Lungu lost the 2021 general election by nearly a million votes to Hichilema, who campaigned on a platform of reform and economic renewal. Following the defeat, Lungu initially announced his retirement from politics, only to return to the political arena in 2023 amid growing public dissatisfaction with the new government.
Later Years and Final Days
Despite being barred by Zambia’s Constitutional Court from contesting future presidential elections—having already served two terms—Lungu remained a vocal figure in national politics. He criticized the Hichilema administration and accused security agencies of harassing him and curbing his movements.
In a 2024 interview with the BBC, he claimed he was being prevented from traveling for medical reasons and was “virtually under house arrest”—a claim the government denied.
His final months were marked by recurring disputes with authorities and continued speculation about his health. Yet, he remained defiant. “I am ready to fight from the front, not from the rear, in defence of democracy,” he declared in a 2023 address to supporters.
Personal Life
Lungu was widely described by allies as a disciplined lawyer, committed public servant, and family man. A close friend described him as “a good foot-soldier, lawyer and politician, father, husband and grandparent.”
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
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