Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has died at the age of 68 while receiving specialized medical treatment in Pretoria, South Africa. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, in a video message shared on social media. Lungu had been under medical supervision in recent weeks, battling complications from achalasia, a rare esophageal disorder for which he had previously undergone treatment during his presidency.
Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021, ascending to the role following the death of President Michael Sata. Initially elected to complete Sata’s term, he secured a full term in 2016 after narrowly defeating opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema. His tenure was marked by significant infrastructure development, particularly in road construction, but also faced criticism over economic mismanagement, leading to Zambia’s historic default on international debt in 2020.
Tributes have poured in from across the African continent, reflecting on Lungu’s complex legacy as a leader who was both accessible to the poor and embroiled in political controversies.
