Nairobi, Kenya (Horn Observer) – In a solemn announcement that resonated across the continent, Zambia mourned the passing of its former President, Edgar Lungu, who left this world at the age of 68. The Patriotic Front (PF), his long-associated political party, confirmed the news in a poignant statement.
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Early Thursday morning, at 06:00 (04:00 GMT), Lungu took his last breath in a Pretoria clinic in South Africa, where he had been receiving specialized care for an ailment shrouded in discretion. In a gesture filled with love and sorrow, Tasila Lungu, his daughter, shared a brief video message confirming the heartbreak. “In this moment of grief,” she said, “we invoke the spirit of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ — the guiding light of President Lungu’s dedication to our country.”
The specific nature of his illness remains a mystery. Yet, it harkens back to a decade-old surgery where Lungu courageously faced a narrowing of the oesophagus.
A Decade in Power and Politics
Edgar Lungu was not always a political giant. His journey began humbly as a lawyer, stepping into the political arena in 2011 when he served as a Patriotic Front MP. His rise was swift and purposeful, taking on crucial ministerial roles like Home Affairs, Defence, and Justice.
With the untimely passing of President Michael Sata, Lungu ascended to the nation’s helm in January 2015. Completing Sata’s term, he then carved his own path, securing a full presidential term in 2016 with just over 50% of the vote.
His tenure encouraged Chinese investment and oversaw ambitious infrastructure projects. Yet, shadows lingered. Critics pointed to a faltering economy, burgeoning unemployment, and escalating national debt.
Allegations of corruption clouded his administration, with accusations involving close allies. Lungu, with unyielding resolve, denied them all. His leadership style faced scrutiny; his party’s youth wing accused of stifling dissent. The tide turned in the 2021 elections, where he was decisively defeated by opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who capitalized on public discontent.
Life After the Presidency
The chapter after presidency held twists of its own. Though initially declaring his withdrawal from politics after the 2021 electoral loss, Lungu returned in 2023 as a voice for those disenchanted with the new leadership. But dreams of a political return halted when Zambia’s Constitutional Court barred him from future elections, noting his fulfillment of the maximum two-terms
Despite this, Lungu’s influence never waned. He remained a formidable critic of President Hichilema, often alleging that he was a target of political harassment. Reflecting on his post-presidency life, Lungu once lamented being “virtually under house arrest” after being warned against public jogging, criticized as “political activism.” In 2024, he contended with being barred from traveling abroad, claims the government denied, insisting his freedoms were intact.
Tributes from Across Africa
Zambians united to mourn, reaching across political divides, as President Hakainde Hichilema extended heartfelt condolences. “Let us embrace unity and compassion,” he urged, calling for a collective tribute to a man once representing the highest office.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed sentiment shared by many, “A privilege to care for a leader we embraced as both brother and friend.” Meanwhile, Kenyan President William Ruto hailed Lungu as “a progressive and outstanding leader dedicated to the Zambian cause.”
Personal Life and Legacy
Born on November 11, 1956, Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s achievements in law began at the University of Zambia in 1981, continuing with military training at Kabwe’s Miltez army college. His professional journey touched various paths, from law firms to banking and the copper mines.
In the tapestry of his life, woven through law and politics, Lungu was known to many as a “good foot soldier, lawyer, politician, father, husband, and grandparent.” His legacy lies not solely in politics but in the lives he touched with his dedication and service.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
