Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s former president who governed for nearly seven years until 2021, died on Thursday at the age of 68 in a hospital in South Africa.
His party and family confirmed the news.
Lungu had been receiving specialized medical treatment at a clinic in Pretoria, as stated by his political party, the Patriotic Front.
His daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, announced in a social media video that her father had been under medical supervision in recent weeks.
She added that “His condition was managed with dignity and privacy with support from all well-wishers,” though she did not disclose the cause of death.
Lungu had previously suffered from recurring achalasia, a condition characterized by a narrowing of the esophagus, for which he had received 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, secured a landslide victory.
Lungu had previously indicated his intention to run for president again in the 2026 elections.
He initially came to power in 2015 following the death of his predecessor, Michael Sata, and often described himself as an “ordinary Zambian of humble beginnings.”
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