11th November 1956–05 June 2025
Amb. Anthony Mukwita wrote
LUSAKA—Today, I write not with the ink of a journalist or the pen of a diplomat, but with the heaviness of a broken heart.
The sixth President of the Republic of Zambia, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has died.
And with him, a part of our nation’s soul seems to have been ripped away.
It is a moment of unspeakable sorrow. A moment I hoped never to witness—yet it has come like a thief in the night, stealing from us a man we called father, brother, leader, and friend.
President Lungu died in Johannesburg, South Africa, after a period of illness. The news was broken to the nation by his daughter, Tasila Lungu Mwansa, but in truth, it shattered us all.
We are devastated. The air feels heavier today in Lusaka and in every corner of this great republic—from the copper hills of Chipata to the plains of Mongu.
The streets are quiet, yet you can hear the grief. People are crying openly. Shopkeepers have downed tools, students are in silent reflection, and churches have flung open their doors for prayer. We are in mourning.
I find myself searching for words to describe the man who once walked these very corridors of power, the man whose easy laughter and commanding presence shaped an era in our country.
A man of unshakable faith, a staunch Christian, a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather. He was, above all, a man of the people—humble, approachable, and deeply rooted in the soil of the land that birthed him.
His life was never easy. That’s why I called his story “Against All Odds.” I had the immense honour and privilege of writing his only known autobiography by that title.
That was in 2017, while I served as Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador in Stockholm. Later, under his own hand, I was moved to Berlin as Ambassador.
That’s the kind of man Edgar Lungu was—he didn’t just recognize loyalty; he returned it with grace and kindness.
He was not perfect—no leader is—but his imperfections never overshadowed his integrity, love and kindness.
I remember our long phone calls, sometimes at dawn, sometimes past midnight. He would call to check on how I was doing with my family despite his high office. Not because he needed something. Not because of diplomacy.
Just to say, “Muli shani, mudala ba Tony?” That was ECL, no matter how junior you were, he respected you.
Always reaching out. Always caring. His laugh would light up the line. His calm tone could ease a storm.
And now, that voice is silent.
THE RISE AND RISE OF EDGAR LUNGU
President Lungu rose to power after the untimely death of President Michael Sata, a moment not unlike this one in its national pain.
He led Zambia from 2015, guiding the country through challenging economic tides, political trials, and infrastructural transformation. He left office in 2021 when President Hakainde Hichilema swept the high stakes poll.
Under his leadership, we saw roads paved where there were none. Bridges that connected once isolated communities. Airports and dams that stand today as testaments to his developmental legacy.
His name will forever be engraved in our national consciousness—not just in bricks and mortar, but in the way he made Zambians believe again.
ECL AND THE CONSTITUTION
Let us not forget one of his most powerful legacies: the reintroduction of the 50% plus one clause in Zambia’s constitution. A democratic principle that ensured every President going forward must secure the true majority of the people’s vote.
Ironically, it worked against him politically, but he embraced to the die he died. Because principle mattered more to him than power. That alone tells you what kind of leader we have lost.
Hon. Given Lubinda, his long-time ally and comrade in the Patriotic Front, has called this moment “most unfortunate.” I echo that with a heavy soul.
It is more than unfortunate—it is tragic.
We are not only mourning a former Head of State; we are grieving the passing of an era.
President Lungu was set to turn 69 this coming 11th November. We would have celebrated with him. Today, we weep instead. The Kenneth Kaunda Wing at Mulungushi International Conference Centre still carries his fingerprints.
But it is his warmth, his humility, and his unwavering belief in the Zambian people that remain etched deeper than any concrete.
He leaves behind his wife, the gracious Esther Lungu, his children, grandchildren—and millions of us whose lives he touched, directly or indirectly.
And though his body now lies still, his legacy marches on. In our memories, in our bridges, in our laws, and in the very fabric of this republic.
My heart breaks for Zambia today.
Farewell, Mr. President. Farewell, ECL.
You ran your race with dignity. You led with heart and grit. And though the heavens may have reclaimed you, your story remains with us—forever.
Amb. Anthony Mukwita
Author ñ Against All Odds: Edgar Lunguís Journey to State House
Lusaka, Zambia
