Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has died at the age of 68 while receiving medical care in South Africa.
His daughter Tasila Lungu confirmed the news in a recorded statement on Thursday, saying he died at the Medforum Clinic in Pretoria, where he had been under medical supervision for the past few weeks. “His condition was managed with dignity and confidentiality,” she said.
Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president, ruling the country from 2015 to 2021. A trained lawyer, Lungu assumed office following the death of President Michael Sata and was later defeated by incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema in the 2021 general elections.
Lungu was Zambia’s only living former president until his death. His death marks the end of an era in the country’s politics and has prompted a massive outpouring of tributes from across the political spectrum.