Zambia’s Court blocks Edgar Lungu’s 3rd term bid

Zambia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that former President Edgar Lungu is ineligible to run for a third term, following his announcement last year to re-enter active politics. The court determined that Lungu’s first term, which lasted from 2015 to 2016 after the death of President Michael Sata, counts as a full presidential term, effectively preventing him from seeking another mandate.

Lungu criticized Tuesday’s ruling, claiming it was influenced by “political manipulation.”

The 68-year-old former leader has faced corruption allegations during his time in office, with his wife and other family members also facing graft charges. Lungu has suggested these legal battles are politically motivated attempts to block his third-term ambitions.

Despite the court’s ruling, the vice president of Lungu’s party stated that the former president remains undeterred, continuing to campaign and aiming to run for president again in 2026.