Zambia High Court has ruled against ex-president Edgar Lungu’s bid to run for re-election in the 2026 presidential race. This decision comes a year after Lungu announced his return to active politics, with the opposition coalition, Tonse Alliance, selecting him as their candidate to challenge current President Hakainde Hichilema.
The court ruled that Lungu had already served the maximum two terms permitted by the constitution. Following the death of President Michael Sata in October 2014, Lungu was elected in January 2015 to complete the remaining 20 months of Sata’s term. Lungu went on to serve a second term from September 2016 to August 2021, but he was defeated in the 2021 presidential election by Hakainde Hichilema.
Lungu argued that the period he served did not constitute a full term since it fell short of five years. However, the court disagreed, affirming that it counted as a full term under the law.
Lungu said he accepted the Constitutional Court’s verdict, which he said did not come as a surprise as it had been steered by “the hands of political manipulation”.
During Lungu’s presidency, allegations of corruption surfaced, implicating him and members of his family. His wife and other relatives currently face charges in court, which Lungu claims are attempts to bar him from contesting the presidency for a third time.
In response to the ruling, several civil society organizations, including the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the church, and various political parties, have urged the public to respect the Constitutional Court’s judgment, emphasizing the importance of upholding the nation’s laws.
Following Sata’s death and Lungu’s first election, the constitution was amended so that the vice-president automatically takes office if a sitting president dies.
