Early Life and Legal Foundations

Born on November 11, 1956, in Ndola, Edgar Chagwa Lungu came of age in post-colonial Zambia. He pursued a legal education at the University of Zambia and graduated in 1981. He began his career not in politics but in law—working as a lawyer in private practice and later briefly entering the corporate sector. His legal background would later lend him a technocratic posture in government, even as his political journey pulled him deeper into Zambia’s evolving democratic experiment.

Rapid Rise in a Turbulent Political Landscape

Lungu’s entry into frontline politics came relatively late. It was not until 2011 that he was elected as Member of Parliament for Chawama Constituency. His loyalty and perceived discipline quickly earned him ministerial positions, first as Deputy Minister and then full Minister in various portfolios—Justice, Defence, and Home Affairs.

The death of then-President Michael Sata in 2014 changed everything. In the midst of national mourning and internal party tensions, Lungu emerged as the consensus candidate for the ruling party. His election as President in early 2015 marked the beginning of a period characterized by both massive infrastructure expansion and rising authoritarian concerns.

Presidential Legacy: Roads, Power, and Debt

During his tenure from 2015 to 2021, Lungu prioritized infrastructure development. Highways, airports, and power stations reshaped the nation’s physical landscape. His government claimed to be transforming Zambia into a hub for regional logistics and trade. However, the cost of these ambitious projects proved burdensome.

Mounting foreign debt, mostly from Chinese and private creditors, strained the economy. By 2020, Zambia became the first African nation to default on its sovereign debt in the wake of the global pandemic. Inflation soared, the local currency weakened, and public discontent simmered beneath the surface.

Critics accused his administration of curtailing civil liberties and weakening institutions. Elections under his watch were often marred by tension, media clampdowns, and allegations of abuse of state machinery.

The 2021 Loss and Years in the Shadows

In 2021, Lungu was defeated in a landslide by opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema. The result was a clear public rebuke of his economic record and leadership style. After stepping down, Lungu mostly retreated from the public eye. His political opponents began pursuing investigations into alleged corruption during his time in office, further sidelining him.

Yet, Lungu remained an influential figure behind the scenes. By 2024, signs of his political ambitions returning became evident. He reappeared at public functions, sometimes to warm applause, sometimes to cold skepticism. His re-emergence reignited debates about his role in Zambia’s future—and his unresolved past.

Fading Health and Final Days

Throughout his career, Lungu struggled with health complications. In 2015, he collapsed during a public event and was later diagnosed with achalasia, a rare esophageal condition. Despite treatment abroad, health remained a private but recurring challenge.

In August 2024, during a fitness parade in Lusaka, he again collapsed—this time from a reported hypoglycemic episode. Though he recovered, it signaled deeper complications. Earlier in 2025, he traveled to South Africa for surgery.

On June 5, 2025, Edgar Lungu passed away in Pretoria due to complications from that operation. He was 68. The announcement came from his daughter, who thanked Zambians for their prayers and solidarity.

National Reflection: Mourning a Divided Figure

Lungu’s death has cast a long shadow over Zambia. He was a man who rose from legal anonymity to the presidency, who built roads across the country but also oversaw an economic collapse. He was a man both celebrated and criticized, remembered by some as a patriot and by others as a warning.

In the days following his passing, tributes poured in from allies and adversaries alike. Yet beneath the mourning lies a broader reckoning—about Zambia’s political maturity, accountability, and how history will record the man who once held the nation's highest office.

Conclusion

The passing of Edgar Lungu closes a volatile yet pivotal chapter in Zambia’s modern story. His life was a blend of ambition and contradiction—a mirror to the nation’s struggles with growth, leadership, and democracy. As Zambia moves forward, his legacy will linger—etched in asphalt roads, court records, and a public memory still wrestling with what he ultimately stood for.