Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing in South Africa of His Excellency Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of the Republic of Zambia.
President Lungu passed away on Thursday, 5 June 2025, in a Pretoria hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for several weeks.
He was 68.
“On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to President Lungu’s family and to the nation and government of the Republic of Zambia led by His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema,” the Presidency said in a statement made available to The Bulrushes.
Lungu served as the sixth president of Zambia from 26 January 2015 to 24 August 2021.
President Ramaphosa said: “As regional compatriots, South Africans are standing by the people of Zambia in this difficult moment.
“We have had the duty and privilege in recent weeks to care for a leader from our region whom we embraced as a brother and friend.
“We therefore share the grief and loss experienced at this time by the Lungu family, as well as the Zambian nation.
May his soul rest in peace.”
