Zambia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that former President Edgar Lungu is ineligible to run for president again, definitively ending his political ambitions, Bloomberg reports.
The court’s decision, delivered by Deputy President Arnold Shilimi on Tuesday, clarifies that Lungu has already served the constitutionally mandated two terms.
The ruling stems from a challenge to Lungu’s eligibility for the 2026 presidential election. Lungu had argued that his first term, which began after the death of President Michael Sata in 2014, did not constitute a full term and therefore shouldn’t count against his eligibility. He served a shortened term following Sata’s death before winning a full term in 2016. He subsequently lost the 2021 election to current President Hakainde Hichilema in a landslide victory.
The court, however, rejected Lungu’s argument, sayinng that his two periods in office fulfill the constitutional limit on presidential terms. Deputy President Shilimi declared that Lungu is “ineligible to participate in any future elections as a presidential candidate.”
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha welcomed the decision, stating in a separate statement that it “provides legal clarity for citizens and safeguards our democracy, allowing us to look forward to free, fair and competitive elections in 2026.”
This ruling marks a significant shift from a previous Constitutional Court decision that favored Lungu while he was still in power. The court’s composition has since changed following the removal of three judges appointed by Lungu by President Hichilema.
The legal battle comes amidst ongoing investigations into Lungu’s family. Several members of his family, including his wife, are facing charges related to alleged possession of assets suspected to be proceeds of crime. They deny all wrongdoing.
