Zambia’s constitutional court ruled Tuesday that former President Edgar Lungu cannot seek another term in office, determining that his previous service from 2015-2016 and 2016-2021 constituted two full terms under the constitution.
“The first respondent Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has therefore been twice elected and has twice held office,” the court declared, effectively ending Lungu’s attempted political comeback announced during former President Michael Sata’s memorial service last October.
The ruling follows Lungu’s pledge to return from retirement amid a series of criminal investigations targeting his family members, including his wife, who faces allegations of possessing proceeds of crime. The former president, who lost power to United Party for National Development candidate Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, did not attend the heavily guarded court session.
“We are studying the matter. But we are gravely concerned by the court’s decision and ruling,” Patriotic Front spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said following the verdict, which determined Lungu’s initial term after President Sata’s death counted as a complete presidential term.
