NAIROBI, Kenya— Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s sixth president and a polarizing figure in the country’s recent political history, has died at 68 while receiving specialized treatment in Pretoria, South Africa.
His death comes just six months after his short-lived attempt to return to politics was blocked by a court ruling, which declared him ineligible for another presidential run.
Lungu, who served as Zambia’s head of state from 2015 to 2021, passed away Thursday morning, according to a statement by the Patriotic Front, the political party he once led. The announcement was followed by a video of his daughter, Tasila Lungu—herself a sitting member of parliament—confirming the news on social media.
“My father had been under medical supervision in recent weeks,” she said, noting that the condition was managed “with dignity and privacy.”
Lungu had long struggled with a rare esophageal disorder that narrowed his food pipe, a condition that previously led him to undergo treatment in South Africa shortly after taking office in 2015. At the time, Zambia’s presidency said the necessary procedure wasn’t available domestically.
Born on November 11, 1956, in Ndola in Zambia’s Copperbelt province, Lungu trained as a lawyer before diving into politics. He held key positions under former President Michael Sata—including justice and defence minister—before assuming the presidency following Sata’s death in office.
Though his leadership began with high hopes and sweeping reforms, including changes to the constitution aimed at reducing executive power, his time in office quickly became a tale of two narratives.
On one hand, Lungu was praised for ambitious infrastructure projects, most notably a massive road-building program that transformed urban and rural connectivity across Zambia.
On the other, his administration drove the country into deep debt, culminating in a sovereign default in 2020. That financial crisis significantly contributed to his election defeat the following year, when he lost to long-time opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema.
Lungu’s later years were marked by attempts to undo some of the very constitutional changes he had championed—moves widely seen as attempts to extend his grip on power.
When he tried to make a political comeback in late 2024, the courts shut the door for good, citing term limit provisions that stemmed from his own earlier reforms.
His legacy remains complicated.
“The legacy of Edgar Lungu is a checkered legacy,” said University of Zambia political analyst Lee Habasonda. “He will be remembered for tolerating thuggery by his supporters although he also represented a brand of politicians who interacted across class.”
Lungu’s approach to politics reflected contradictions: progressive on paper, but often criticized for fostering a culture of political intimidation. He was as likely to be seen shaking hands in rural towns as he was to be accused of turning a blind eye to strong-arm tactics by his base.
With his passing, Zambia closes a chapter on a presidency that leaves behind as many questions as accomplishments. Edgar Lungu’s story may be over, but the debate over his impact is just beginning.
