Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu has passed away at the age of 68, his party, the Patriotic Front, confirmed in a statement.
Lungu died at 06:00 hours on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Medforum Clinic in Pretoria, South Africa, where he had been receiving specialized treatment for an undisclosed illness.
His daughter, Tasila Lungu, announced his passing in an emotional statement, invoking the spirit of “One Zambia, One Nation,” a creed that guided her father’s service to the country.
Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from January 2015 to August 2021, leading the country for six years before losing the 2021 election to current President Hakainde Hichilema by a large margin.
During his tenure, he oversaw significant infrastructure development but faced criticism for a struggling economy and high unemployment.
Before his death, Lungu had been receiving medical treatment in South Africa since last December.
The cause of his death is still unconfirmed, but reports suggest he developed complications during a routine procedure.
Lungu’s passing has sent shockwaves through Zambia’s political landscape, raising questions about the future of the opposition’s strategy ahead of the 2026 elections.
