Zambia’s sixth Republican President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, passed away this morning at Mediclinic Medforum Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. His daughter, Tasila Lungu Mwansa—who is also the Member of Parliament for Chawama—confirmed the development on Wednesday afternoon.
“Fellow Zambians, it is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of His Excellency, my father, President Edgar Changwa Lungu. He had been under medical supervision in recent weeks. His condition was managed with dignity and privacy, with support from all our well-wishers,” an emotional Tasila announced.
“In this moment of grief, we invoke the spirit of One Zambia, One Nation—the timeless creed that guided President Lungu’s service to our country. In time, the nation will be informed of other arrangements.”
Lungu passed away at the age of 68. He served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021 under the Patriotic Front (PF) party and was also the chairman of the opposition Tonse Alliance at the time of his death.
Lungu and football
Lungu will be remembered by many Zambian football fans for his deep love for the beautiful game. During his presidency, Zambia hosted its first-ever CAF international tournament—the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations—which the Young Chipolopolo won.
“The continued victory of this team demonstrates the reality of unlimited possibility that always beckons us. The extraordinary unity of purpose among these young people creates the winning team spirit that continues to propel them from one victory to another,” Lungu said after the Young Chipolopolo lifted the AFCON.
“This is a great example these young footballers are giving the nation across all other spheres of our national life—that we can win. Let us focus on national unity and learn from footballers that team spirit is the best way to propel this great nation forward,“ he added.
On many occasions, Lungu personally purchased match tickets and declared free entry to international games involving the Chipolopolo, which he often attended himself.
