Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu dies aged 68
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu died on Thursday at the age of 68 at a medical centre in South Africa, his political party the Patriotic Front said.
Lungu was head of state of the Southern African country between 2015 and 2021, when he lost an election to long-time opposition leader and current President Hakainde Hichilema.
"The former president, who has been receiving specialised treatment in South Africa, died today on Thursday, 5th June," the Patriotic Front's statement on Facebook said.
The party also posted a video on Facebook of Lungu's daughter Tasila Lungu, a member of parliament in Zambia, announcing his death.
"My father...had been under medical supervision in recent weeks. This condition was managed with dignity and privacy," she said.
Lungu took over the presidency in 2015 after the death of then-president Michael Sata. He then won a presidential election that put him in office from August 2016 until August 2021.
The former lawyer's previous roles included justice and defence minister.
After his electoral defeat in 2021, Lungu went into retirement, then made a political comeback in 2023, eventually being accepted as the leader and presidential candidate for the alliance including the Patriotic Front.
But in December last year, Zambia's constitutional court ruled that he was ineligible to run for another term in office.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing in South Africa of His Excellency Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of the Republic of Zambia. Aged 68, President Lungu passed away on Thursday, 5 June 2025, in a Pretoria hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a number of weeks. On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to President Lungu's family and to the nation and government of the Republic of Zambia led by His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema. President Ramaphosa said: 'As regional compatriots, South Africans are standing by the people of Zambia in this difficult moment. 'We have had the duty and privilege in recent weeks to care for a leader from our region whom we embraced as a brother and friend. 'We therefore share the grief and loss experienced at this time by the Lungu family, as well as the Zambian nation. May his soul rest in peace.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
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Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu died on Thursday at the age of 68 at a medical centre in South Africa, his political party the Patriotic Front said. Lungu was head of state of the Southern African country between 2015 and 2021, when he lost an election to long-time opposition leader and current President Hakainde Hichilema. "The former president, who has been receiving specialised treatment in South Africa, died today on Thursday, 5th June," the Patriotic Front's statement on Facebook said. The party also posted a video on Facebook of Lungu's daughter Tasila Lungu, a member of parliament in Zambia, announcing his death. "My been under medical supervision in recent weeks. This condition was managed with dignity and privacy," she said. Lungu took over the presidency in 2015 after the death of then-president Michael Sata. He then won a presidential election that put him in office from August 2016 until August 2021. The former lawyer's previous roles included justice and defence minister. After his electoral defeat in 2021, Lungu went into retirement, then made a political comeback in 2023, eventually being accepted as the leader and presidential candidate for the alliance including the Patriotic Front. But in December last year, Zambia's constitutional court ruled that he was ineligible to run for another term in office.
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Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu dies aged 68
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu died on Thursday at the age of 68 at a medical centre in South Africa, his political party the Patriotic Front said. Lungu was head of state of the Southern African country between 2015 and 2021, when he lost an election to long-time opposition leader and current President Hakainde Hichilema. "The former president, who has been receiving specialised treatment in South Africa, died today on Thursday, 5th June," the Patriotic Front's statement on Facebook said. The party also posted a video on Facebook of Lungu's daughter Tasila Lungu, a member of parliament in Zambia, announcing his death. "My been under medical supervision in recent weeks. This condition was managed with dignity and privacy," she said. Lungu took over the presidency in 2015 after the death of then-president Michael Sata. He then won a presidential election that put him in office from August 2016 until August 2021. The former lawyer's previous roles included justice and defence minister. After his electoral defeat in 2021, Lungu went into retirement, then made a political comeback in 2023, eventually being accepted as the leader and presidential candidate for the alliance including the Patriotic Front. But in December last year, Zambia's constitutional court ruled that he was ineligible to run for another term in office.
