Edgar Lungu: President of Zambia
| Real Name/Full Name | Edgar Chagwa Lungu |
| Nick Name/Celebrated Name: | Edgar Lungu |
| Birth Place: | Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (present Zambia) |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 11 November 1956 |
| Age/How Old: | 68 years old |
| Height/How Tall: | In Centimetres – 187 cm In Feet and Inches – 6′ 1″ |
| Weight: | In Kilograms – 74 Kg In Pounds – 163 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Parents Name: | Father – Unknown Mother – Eliza Jere |
| Siblings: | Unknown |
| School: | Mukuba Secondary School |
| College: | University of Zambia |
| Religion: | Christian |
| Nationality: | Zambian |
| Zodiac Sign: | Scorpio |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Girlfriend: | N/A |
| Wife/Spouse Name: | Esther Lungu |
| Kids/Children Name: | Yes (six including Taxila Lungu) |
| Profession: | Politician (Former Zambian President) |
| Net Worth: | $3 million |
| Wikipedia: | Wiki |
| Last Updated: | December 2024 |
Edgar Chagwa Lungu is a Zambian politician and a former President of Zambia who served the period between 25 January 2015 to 24 August 2021. Prior to this, he served as the Minister of Defense and Minister of Justice when Michael Sata was the president. After the death of President Sata, Lungu was taken in as the candidate of the Patriotic Front party for the January 2015 presidential by-elections to take over the remaining time of Sata’s term.
After the election, he slightly defeated the opposition candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, and took over office on 25 January 2015. During the general elections in 2016, again, he narrowly defeated Hichilema now for a full presidential term. Hichilema disputed the results and even filed a case at the constitutional court, but the court finally dismissed the case on 5 September. He was sworn in on 13 September 2016. Keep reading this article to know about the biography of Edgar Lungu and all details regarding him today.
Edgar Lungu lost to HH on 16 August 2021 through which he conceded defeat and congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema on winning the elections. Edgar Lungu handed the instruments of power on 24 August 2021.
Biography and Early Life
Edgar Lungu was born on 11 November 1956 in Ndola, Nothern Rhodesia, which is presently known as Zambia. Concerning his early life and biography, he has not shared any information. Neither his siblings nor parents have been included in his biography. Nevertheless, he once shared that his mother is known as Eliza Jere. He also pointed out that both his parents were Zambian.
Education
Lungu is an educated man. He graduated from Mukuba Secondary School before joining university. He graduated from the University of Zambia with an L.L.B. in 1981. Later, he joined the law firm Andrea Masiye And Company, located in Lusaka. He also underwent military officer training at Miltez under Zambia National Service before returning to practicing law and later joined politics. However, his law practicing license was suspended by the Law Association of Zambia in 2010 after he was accused of professional misconduct.
Personal Life: Wife, Kids, Children, etc.
Lungu is a family man with a wife and children. His better half is known by the name Esther Lungu. They exchanged vows in 1986. The couple is blessed with six children. One of their children, Taxila Lungu, is a councilwoman in Chawama. His family are Christians and practicing Baptism.
Is Edgar Lungu Gay?
No. Edgar is straight as far as sexual orientation is concerned and is neither gay nor bisexual. As a matter of fact, he is married to one wife his entire life, and they are blessed with six adult children. The couple does not seem to be facing any kind of family issues, and the bond in their marriage is still strong.
Professional Career
Lungu started his political career in 2011 after F won the elections, and he became Junior Minister in the office of the vice-president. On 9 July 2012, he was promoted to become Minister of Home Affairs. He became Minister of Defence on 24 December 2013 after the former minister, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba. He was the acting president during the long illness of president Sata in 2013-2014. He even left to take care of the country when he went abroad for treatment.
After the death of President Sata on 28 October 2014, V.P. Dr. Guy Scott took over as president. Lungu was, however, viewed as the main contender to succeed Sata in the presidential by-election. Acting presidential, Scott dismissed Lungu from the position of secretary-General of the PF on 3 November 2014. He was succeeded by Davis Mwila, the MP for Chipili. He got reinstated on 4 November 2014.
Edgar was elected the president of the Patriotic Front through the raising of hands by the delegates. He contested for the position of president during the by-elections and defeated his closest rival, Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development. He was sworn in as president on 25 January by the Electoral Commission of Zambia at the National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka.
Edgar was one of the candidates for the August 2016 presidential elections. He won the election with just a few thousand votes ahead of Hakainde Hichilema, with a total vote of 50.32%. After Hichilema refused the defeat, this added the margin for Edgar with 100,530 votes. Hichilema even filed for a case for the results to be nullified, saying there were some irregularities. However, the court dismissed the case on 2 September, and Lungu was sworn in on 13 September 2016.
Awards and Achivements
Lungu has been a successful politician, although there are no awards under his name so far. He became the president of Zambia for the remaining term after the death of the then-president, Michael Sata. During the August 2016 general election, he was elected the president for his full term.
Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Edgar Lungu in 2024
Lungu has an estimated net worth of about $3 million. The main source of his income is his political career. Before joining politics as his full-time career, he was into business. He is still active, and his net worth will continue to rise in the coming years. His annual salary is K487,839.00 after he took a 50% pay cut following his government’s austerity measures. In addition to this, he receives allowances on top of his salary.
Edgar Lungu Social Media Platforms
Edgar Lunguis very active on social media and you can reach his on the following handles;
- Edgar Lungu Instagram Account
- Edgar Lungu Twitter Account
- Edgar Lungu Facebook Account
Some Interesting Facts You Need To Know
- His biography, Against All Odds, was written by a Zambian journalist and senior diplomat, Anthony Mukwita. The book was published by Partridge Africa on 5 January 2017.
- He once collapsed while delivering a speech on International Women’s day in Lusaka. He spent several days in a Zambian hospital but later had an operation for his narrowed oesophagus in Pretoria, South Africa.
- He expressed anti-LGBR rhetoric in December 2019, comparing homosexuality to bestiality.
Edgar Lungu was the sixth president of Zambia. He previously served in the position in the Zambian government before serving as president for the remaining term after the death of Michael Sata. he commuted death sentences of life prisoners of 332 people on 16 July 2015. He even considered overcrowding in jails as being against human dignity.