FORMER ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU DIES At 68.

Lungu’s party, the Patriotic Front, revealed that he died in Pretoria, South Africa, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, while his daughter, Tasila, confirmed in a video message that he died at 6am on Thursday at a clinic in Pretoria.

Tasila paid tribute to her father, invoking the spirit of "One Zambia, One Nation," a creed that guided his service to the country. 

Lungu, who was the country’s sixth president, served from January 26, 2015, to August 24, 2021, and during his presidency, Lungu implemented notable policies, including commuting the death sentences of 332 prisoners to life imprisonment and declaring a national day of prayer. 

Lungu had health issues during his presidency, including collapsing during speeches, and required medical treatment abroad, including an operation for a narrowed esophagus in South Africa.

He lost the 2021 presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema and stepped back from politics, but later returned to pursue his presidential ambition.

##UTVAfrica##