Overview

• His daughter Tasila Lungu-Mwansa said he had been under medical supervision for weeks and died at a Pretoria clinic on June 5.
• Lungu led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, completing Michael Sata’s term and winning a full term in 2016 before losing the 2021 election to Hakainde Hichilema.
• His administration launched major infrastructure and economic diversification initiatives but faced criticism over a 2020 debt default, rising public debt and the use of emergency powers to control unrest.
• A constitutional court decision in December 2024 ruled that his earlier service counted as two terms and barred him from contesting the next election.
• Supporters praise his development projects and diplomatic efforts, while critics highlight concerns over governance, political tensions and restrictions on freedoms.