Former President of Zambia, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has died at the age of 68 while receiving medical treatment in South Africa. His passing marks a somber day in the history of Zambia and the wider Southern African region.
According to a statement issued by Zambia’s main opposition party, the Patriotic Front, Dr. Lungu died earlier today at Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in Pretoria. The party confirmed the news through its Acting President Given Lubinda, noting that Dr. Lungu had been undergoing specialized medical care when he succumbed to complications.
His daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, Member of Parliament for Chawama Constituency, confirmed the development. The family’s legal representative, Makebi Zulu, also verified the news but indicated that some members of the former president’s extended family were still being officially informed.
Dr. Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from January 26, 2015 to August 24, 2021, leading the nation through periods of economic reform, national infrastructure expansion, and complex political challenges. Rising from humble beginnings, he was known for his legal acumen, having practiced law before entering politics, and later held various ministerial roles including Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence.
His presidency was marked by both praise and controversy, with supporters commending his focus on infrastructure development and critics citing concerns about democratic freedoms. He conceded defeat in 2021 to current President Hakainde Hichilema, peacefully transitioning power in what was regarded as a positive moment for Zambian democracy.
Though Edgar Lungu was born in Ndola, Zambia, in 1956, he held ancestral and cultural ties to Malawi.
His family roots trace back to the eastern region of Zambia near the Malawian border—a corridor known for significant cross-border ethnic and familial connections.
Lungu himself acknowledged his Chewa heritage, a group found in both Zambia and Malawi, during multiple public speeches. He was also known to have maintained cordial relations with several Malawian leaders during his tenure, fostering bilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade, and regional security.
In 2017, under Lungu’s leadership, Zambia and Malawi launched joint infrastructure and trade initiatives, including the Mchinji–Chipata railway link, aimed at boosting regional integration. His Pan-African vision, particularly within the SADC region, earned him recognition among regional peers.
Dr. Lungu’s death has shocked many across Zambia and Southern Africa, with tributes already pouring in from political leaders, civil society, and ordinary citizens. His legacy, while complex, is undeniably interwoven with Zambia’s post-independence development.
Funeral and memorial arrangements will be communicated in due course, according to the Patriotic Front.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE PATRIOTIC FRONT ON THE DEMISE OF DR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU
Thursday, 5th June 2025
Sixth President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu has passed on.
The former President, who has been receiving specialized treatment in South Africa, died today on Thursday, 5th June 2025 at Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.
Chawama Member of Parliament and daughter to Dr. Lungu, Hon. Tasila Lungu-Mwansa confirmed the sad development.
And lawyer to the family, Hon. Makebi Zulu confirmed the sad development but stated that members of the family were in the process of being informed.
President Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s Sixth Republican President from 26th January 2015 to August 24th, 2021.
Details and funeral arrangements will be communicated later.
Issued by:
Hon. Given Lubinda
Acting President
Patriotic Front
