Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu has died in South Africa at the age of 68. His party, the Patriotic Front, said in a statement that he had been receiving specialised treatment for an undisclosed illness in Pretoria. Lungu led Zambia from 2015 until 2021, when he lost the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema.
After stepping back from politics following his defeat, Lungu later sought to return to the political stage. However, the Constitutional Court barred him from running again at the end of last year, ruling that he had already served the maximum two terms allowed by law. Despite this, he remained a vocal critic of his successor and continued to exert influence in the country’s political landscape.
Also Read: Five Children Die in South Sudan Amid US Health Funding Cuts
Lungu’s daughter Tasila confirmed his death in a short video statement, saying he had been under medical supervision for several weeks. President Hichilema has called for unity and compassion in the wake of his predecessor’s death, urging Zambians to honour Lungu’s service to the nation.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Kenya’s President William Ruto have also paid tribute to Lungu, praising his leadership and dedication to Zambia. There has been no official confirmation of the exact nature of the illness that claimed the former president’s life.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.