When the news broke on June 5, 2025, that Zambia’s former President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, had passed away, the country collectively held its breath. He died in Pretoria, South Africa—an end coming far from his homeland, where he had governed as the sixth president from 2015 to 2021. His daughter, Tasila Lungu‑Mwansa, shared the sorrow in a deeply emotional video, revealing that he had been under medical supervision in recent weeks. The Edgar Lungu cause of death was attributed to complications following surgery. While his family kept details private, public reporting confirmed that the Edgar Lungu cause of death was linked to complications following surgery.
Born on November 11, 1956, in Ndola, Lungu rose from law school to holding key government posts—including Minister of Justice and Defence—before becoming president following the death of Michael Sata in 2014. He was elected to a full term a year later and became known for major road projects and legislative reform. But he also faced mounting criticism for financial troubles, including Zambia’s historic debt default in 2020, and for controversies involving civil liberties.
In 2021, he was defeated by Hakainde Hichilema. He then launched a political comeback, only to be barred from contesting again due to constitutional term limits. Despite this, he remained a force through the Tonse Alliance, which he led at the time of his passing.
Zambia has been touched by far more than the Edgar Lungu cause of death; a beloved father, husband to Esther Lungu, and a figure to many—an emblem of hope, ambition, and complexity. His passing invites reflection on a man who embodied both Zambia’s potential and its challenges.
There is profound sorrow in the hearts of his fellow citizens. Political figures and ordinary Zambians alike remember the roads he built but also lament the heavy debts that weighed on the nation. Above politics, there lingers a memory of a man who loved his country and sought to lift its people, even amid controversy. In the coming days, Zambia will plan the burial and reflect on Edgar Lungu’s life in ceremonies both official and personal. As the nation grieves, it will remember him not just for how he governed, but for the human being he was—compassionate, flawed, determined.
