Zambia’s Constitutional Court Bars Former President
By A Correspondent | Lusaka, Zambia – Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu has been permanently retired from running in future presidential elections, following a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.
The court determined that Lungu’s two stints in office, including a 20-month term after succeeding the late President Michael Sata, constitute the maximum two terms permitted under Zambia’s Constitution. This decision blocks Lungu’s intended challenge to current President Hakainde Hichilema in the 2026 elections.
Justice Arnold Mweetwa Shilimi, deputy president of the Constitutional Court, stated, “A person who has twice held office and been elected cannot serve another term. Our combined interpretation of the Constitution confirms that the respondent’s term of office from 25 January 2015 to 13 September 2016 constituted a term of office.”
The Case Against Lungu
The case was brought forward by youth activist Michelo Chizombe, who argued that Lungu’s ascension to power following Sata’s death should be counted as a full term. Lungu initially served as acting president before being formally elected in January 2015, then secured a full term in 2016.
The court agreed with Chizombe’s argument, ruling that Lungu’s service from 2015 to 2016, combined with his subsequent term from 2016 to 2021, constitutes two terms.
Accusations of Lawfare
Ahead of the trial, Lungu accused Hichilema and his government of orchestrating a “cowardly and dirty” legal strategy to sideline him from the 2026 presidential race. He claimed the use of constitutional challenges was a ploy to avoid a direct electoral confrontation.
“These schemes are a desperate attempt to deny the Zambian people their right to choose a leader who understands their struggles,” Lungu said during a press briefing last month.
Judicial Controversy
The Constitutional Court had been viewed as potentially favorable to Lungu, who appointed six of its eleven judges during his presidency. However, Hichilema’s administration removed three judges who had previously ruled against his legal challenges to Lungu’s 2016 election victory.
The decision is expected to have significant implications for Zambia’s political landscape as the country approaches the 2026 elections.
While President Hichilema has not commented on the ruling, analysts suggest it cements his position as a frontrunner in the upcoming race, free of a direct challenge from his most formidable rival.