Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Harare Bureau
FORMER Zambian President Edgar Lungu was an astute statesman who was committed to the development and collaboration of the Southern African Development Community region, SADC Chairman, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking to journalists after signing the Book of Condolences at the Zambian Embassy in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa described the former Zambian leader’s death as a “big loss” to the region.
Former President Lungu died in a South African hospital last week at the age of 68.
“Well, we have lost one of our illustrious leaders in the region. He was committed not only to provide leadership to the people of the Republic of Zambia, but to the rest of the region,” the President said.
“He was one of us, he was a man with foresight for the development and collaboration between SADC countries.
“We worked together very, very well, so it is a big loss to all of us in the leadership in our region”.
President Mnangagwa narrated how he and former President Lungu had studied at the same law school at the University of Zambia.
“Well, besides being Presidents, we were students together. We were former students together in law school, so he is really my college mate.
“So there is a lot of history between me and him, and several other Zambian leaders, because I had all my university education in Zambia and at law school, we were together.
“Of course he was a junior, I was senior at the university,” said the President.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa expressed his distress upon hearing the news of the former President’s demise.
“I was deeply touched and saddened by the sudden passing on of the Former President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu on 05 June 2025.
“On behalf of the Government, the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, my family and indeed on my own behalf, I extend to the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, the great people of Zambia and the bereaved Lungu family, our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences.
“We in Zimbabwe fondly remember President Lungu as an astute statesmen who served his people with utmost distinction, humility and honour,” reads part of his message.
Dr Lungu, who served as Zambia’s 6th President from 2015 to 2021, died in a South African hospital after receiving weeks of specialised treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Former President Lungu first ascended to the presidency in January 2015 following a tightly contested special election, held after the sudden death of sitting President Michael Sata.
The then 57-year-old lawyer-turned-politician narrowly secured victory with 48,3 percent of the vote, edging out his closest rival and current President Hichilema.
After serving out Mr Sata’s remaining term, former President Lungu consolidated his power in the August 2016 general elections. In the 2021 election, former President Lungu lost to President Hichilema.
He briefly retired but returned to frontline politics in 2023.
Bongani Ndlovu
The very fact that he “had to die in South African “hospitals is an sad indictment on his leadership. They like us did not invest in health choosing perhaps to rely on USAID whilst buying SUVs for MaShefu