Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu Dies at 68
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Late Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu Dies at 68
Zambia’s sixth president, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, died at the age of 68 following a politicized life marked by ambitious development plans and controversy surrounding authoritarian leadership.
His death was announced by his party, the Patriotic Front (PF), and by his family on Thursday. He had died while in Pretoria, South Africa, where he had been receiving specialized medical treatment.
In a video message on social media, his daughter Tasila Lungu-Mwansa said, “My dad had been under medical observation over the past weeks. His condition was taken care of with dignity and privacy, supported by all well-wishers.”
A Leader with a Global Vision
Lungu served as President of Zambia from 2015 to 2021. During this period, he focused on promoting the global image of Zambia by strengthening diplomatic relations in Africa and abroad. He was a strong advocate for national cohesion, often stating, “We are all ambassadors of our country in our own right.”
His administration pursued policies of economic diversification away from copper mining, infrastructure development, and social cohesion. Some of his accomplishments were the naming of Zambia’s first vice president, Inonge Wina, commuting death sentences, and declaring a national day of prayer.
Controversial Legacy of Governance
Despite his modernization and diplomatic efforts, Lungu’s leadership was blemished with accusations of repression and authoritarianism. Although there was economic crisis, rising debt, and political tensions, his government was accused of misusing emergency powers to stifle opposition.
One especially charged time came after riots associated with rumors of ritual murders, which ignited xenophobic attacks. To answer, Lungu issued a state of emergency, justifying the action as one “to bring sanity” to tumultuous times.
Critics, however, accused him of suppressing opposition voices, stifling press freedom, and passing oppressive laws like the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act to curb opposition online. Oppoition media houses were shut down, and human rights bodies reported harassment and arrest of activists and journalists.
At one time, Lungu seemed to embrace the umbrella of authoritarianism, saying, “Some people will have to lose their rights. So, if I become a dictator for once, bear with me.”
Life Before and After Presidency
Born on November 11, 1956, in Ndola, Copperbelt province, Zambia, Lungu earned a law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981. Lungu was a lawyer and also had a brief military stint before coming to politics in the Patriotic Front. He rose through the ranks and assumed the presidency after the death of President Michael Sata in 2014.
After losing the 2021 election to opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, Lungu initially retired but subsequently backed out of politics, which caused the Zambian law to cancel his retirement allowance.
He is survived by his wife, Esther Lungu, and six children.
A Polarizing Figure in Zambian History
Public opinion of Lungu was strongly polarized. His allies were hailing his devotion to development and national stability, while his detractors were opposing a troubling decline in democratic norms in his tenure.
His former longtime political rival, Hakainde Hichilema, had remarked as follows: “Respect and recognition is earned and not forced,” in opposing Lungu’s leadership style.
As Zambia reflects on his legacy, Edgar Lungu is remembered as a complex individual—a politician who tried to lift his nation, but whose style stirred shrill national and international controversy.
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