Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s sixth president, passed away on Thursday at the age of 68. His death came just months after his attempt to re-enter the political scene was blocked by a court ruling barring him from seeking office again. Lungu, who governed the Southern African nation from 2015 until his electoral defeat in 2021, died in Pretoria, South Africa, where he had been undergoing specialized medical treatment. His political party, the Patriotic Front, confirmed the news in a public statement.

Lungu's presidency was marked by ambitious infrastructure expansion, particularly in road construction, which earned him domestic acclaim. However, his administration also oversaw a dramatic rise in national debt, culminating in Zambia’s default on international loans in 2020—an event that contributed to his fall from political grace. His daughter, Tasila Lungu, who is also a Member of Parliament, announced his death in a somber social media video, saying he had been under medical supervision in recent weeks and was treated with dignity and privacy.

Born in Ndola in the Copperbelt Province on November 11, 1956, Lungu trained as a lawyer and climbed the political ladder by serving as both justice and defence minister under President Michael Sata. After Sata’s death in 2015, Lungu ascended to the presidency and pursued several constitutional reforms aimed at limiting executive power. Despite these early progressive moves, his later years in office saw attempts to reverse such reforms—an effort that ultimately failed.

While Lungu managed to secure a full five-year term by winning re-election in 2016, his time in office became increasingly controversial. Political analysts, including Lee Habasonda of the University of Zambia, have characterized Lungu’s legacy as complex. Though he was seen as a leader who connected with ordinary citizens, he was also criticized for tolerating violence by his supporters and for fostering a political culture that allowed intimidation and disorder to flourish unchecked.

Internationally, Lungu’s relationships with key Western partners became strained. He requested the withdrawal of the U.S. ambassador in 2020, and his dealings with the International Monetary Fund were frosty, resulting in the IMF pulling out its representative from the country. During his rule, economic instability escalated, and the global pandemic further worsened Zambia’s fiscal crisis, making it one of the first nations to default on debt during the COVID-19 era.

After stepping down in 2021, Lungu initially retired from politics but re-emerged in 2023, reclaiming leadership of the Patriotic Front and becoming the coalition’s presidential candidate. However, his comeback bid was short-lived; the constitutional court ruled in December 2024 that he was ineligible to run for office again. Despite his contentious political journey, Edgar Lungu leaves a significant imprint on Zambia’s modern history—one marked by both notable achievements and deep divisions.