Mr. Lungu, who was recently barred by a court ruling from running for president again, left a checkered legacy, with allegations that he eroded freedoms while in office.

Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has died aged 68, his political party the Patriotic Front said on Thursday.Lungu was head of state of the Southern African country between 2015 and 2021, when he lost an election to current President Hakainde Hichilema.

Lungu, who died at the age of 68, ruled the large but sparsely populated southern African nation from January 2015 until August 2021, when he lost to current President Hakainde Hichilema.