Edgar Lungu, the former President of Zambia who held office for nearly seven years until 2021, has died at the age of 68. His passing was announced by the Patriotic Front, his political party, and confirmed by his family in a statement on Thursday.
According to the party, Lungu had been undergoing specialized medical treatment at a clinic in Pretoria, South Africa. His daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, shared a video on social media, stating that her father had been under medical supervision in recent weeks. “His condition was managed with dignity and privacy with support from all well-wishers,” she said, without disclosing the cause of death.
Lungu had been battling recurring achalasia, a condition caused by the narrowing of the esophagus, for which he had been receiving treatment in South Africa.
A trained military officer and lawyer, Lungu stepped down from the presidency in 2021 after veteran opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, the current president, won the elections by a landslide. Prior to his departure from office, Lungu had expressed his intention to run for president again in the 2026 elections.
Lungu’s presidency began in 2015, following the death in office of his predecessor, Michael Sata. He often described himself as an “ordinary Zambian of humble beginnings.”
The news of Lungu’s passing has sent shockwaves throughout the nation, and tributes are expected to pour in from across the political spectrum.