Zambia’s 6th President, Lungu Dies At 68

By Shingirai Vambe

Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu has passed away at the age of 68, according to a statement released by his party, the Patriotic Front. Lungu died on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at a clinic in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, where he had been receiving specialized treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Lungu’s daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, a Member of Parliament, announced his death in a video statement. She revealed that her father had been under medical supervision in recent weeks and that his condition was managed with dignity and privacy. “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, paying tribute to her father’s legacy.

Born on November 11, 1956, Lungu graduated with a law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981. He later underwent military training at the Miltez army college in Kabwe and worked at Andre Masiye and Company Advocates, Barclays Bank, and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines. Lungu’s entry into politics began when he won a seat in parliament as a Patriotic Front Member of Parliament in 2011.

Lungu’s presidency began in January 2015, after winning a special presidential election triggered by the death of Michael Sata. He completed Sata’s term and went on to win a further five years in power in 2016, taking just over 50% of the vote. However, his administration was marred by a struggling economy and high unemployment, which ultimately led to his defeat in the 2021 election by a large margin. President Hakainde Hichilema succeeded him, garnering widespread support due to public dissatisfaction with Lungu’s leadership.

After his electoral defeat, Lungu initially stepped back from politics but later returned to the fray in 2023. Despite being barred by the Constitutional Court from running for another presidential term due to having served two terms, Lungu remained active in politics. He had ambitions to vie for the presidency again, but the court ruling dashed his hopes.

About The Author

Post On Sunday

See author's posts