Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has passed away at the age of 68 in a South African hospital, his political party and family confirmed on Thursday. Lungu had been undergoing specialized medical treatment in Pretoria, according to a statement from the Patriotic Front, his party.
His daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, shared in a social media video that her father had been under medical care for several weeks. “His condition was managed with dignity and privacy, supported by well-wishers,” she said, though she did not disclose the cause of death.
Lungu had battled recurring achalasia, a condition characterized by the narrowing of the esophagus, for which he received treatment in South Africa.
A former military officer and lawyer, Lungu took office in 2015 following the death of then-President Michael Sata. He served until 2021, stepping down after a decisive electoral victory by current President Hakainde Hichilema. Prior to his death, Lungu had announced plans to contest the 2026 presidential elections.
Describing himself as “an ordinary Zambian of humble beginnings,” Lungu’s tenure marked a significant chapter in Zambia’s recent political history.
AFP
