
Former Zambia president Edgar Lungu dies aged 68
Former Zambia president Edgar Lungu, who served as the leader of the southern African nation from 2015 until 2021, has died at the age of 68.
Mr Lungu's daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, announced his death in a video posted on the official Facebook page of his political party, the Patriotic Front.
Advertisement
She said he died in a hospital in South Africa after having been under 'medical supervision' in recent weeks. Ms Lungu-Mwansa did not give a cause of death.
Mr Lungu became president in 2015 to complete the term of Michael Sata after he died in office. Mr Lungu was elected to a full presidential term in 2016, beating current president Hakainde Hichilema. Mr Lungu later lost to Mr Hichilema in the 2021 election.
Mr Lungu had sought to challenge Mr Hichilema in next year's presidential election, but a court last year barred him from standing. The court ruled his time as president from 2015 to 2016 counted as a full term and said he had, therefore, served the maximum length of two terms.
Mr Lungu alleged there was political interference in the court ruling. His wife and other family members have faced corruption allegations.
Advertisement
Mr Lungu claimed last year that his movements were being monitored by police and he had effectively been placed under house arrest to restrict his return to politics. Police said it was standard to monitor former presidents for their safety.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in UK after leader's dire Putin warning
Keir Starmer will meet Ukrainian President in the UK today. Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold talks with the Prime Minister, hours after at least seven people were killed in Russian air and drone strikes in Kyiv. Mr Zelensky branded Russia, North Korea and Iran a "coalition of killers" and said he would be sounding the alarm duuring his visit. He said: 'After the strikes on Iran's nuclear program facilities, there was a lot of noise from Moscow – the Russian leadership demonstratively condemned the 'rocket-bomb' steps. 'Today, Moscow is silent after the Russian army launched an absolutely cynical strike with Russian-Iranian [drones] and missiles on the civilian infrastructure of Kyiv and other our cities and communities. In Kyiv alone, five apartment buildings were damaged. 'These are ordinary residential buildings. As of now, six people are known to have been killed.' And the Ukrainian leader continued: 'Everyone in the countries next to Russia, Iran, and North Korea should think about whether they will be able to protect life there if this coalition of killers persists and continues to spread terror. 'Today, during my visit to Britain, I will talk to my partners about exactly this - about our defence, which should become the basis for a much stronger common defence. And we will also agree on new and strong steps to put pressure on Russia for this war and to stop the strikes.' It comes after Mr Zelensky claimed that Vladimir Putin's Russia is gearing up for military operations in Europe. The Ukrainian leader said his country is "preparing joint decisions for defence, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union" and promised to keep allies in the loop. Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan, Mikey Smith, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke and Ashley Cowburn. Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Kirsty Coventry is now the most powerful person in sport and faces a bulging in-tray
A new day has broken, has it not? For several reasons, Tony Blair's 1997 election victory speech comes to mind on what will be a historic and symbolic day for sport. Because in Lausanne on Monday, after plenty of handshakes and platitudes, the 41-year-old Kirsty Coventry will become the first female and first African president of the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year-old history. It has been, by any measure, a dizzying ascent. In 2016, Coventry stepped out of an Olympic pool for the final time in Rio. Now, nine years later, she is the most powerful person in sport. Yet as she takes charge, there are some who suspect that the new dawn will look rather like the old one – and that her predecessor, Thomas Bach, and his administration, will remain puppet masters behind the throne. After all, it was Bach who identified Coventry's leadership abilities and pushed her candidacy hard before the election in March. And with the mother of two from Zimbabwe not yet having significant business or global political experience, there is a school of thought that believes she will rely on Bach and others in the IOC. Yet having spoken to several people in the IOC ecosystem, I wonder whether that analysis might turn out to be incorrect. Because the early signs are that Coventry may end up being a lot more independent, and interesting, than Bach and the IOC administration were expecting. True, it is early days. But Coventry, who only arrived in Lausanne at the start of June as part of a three-month transition process, has already made an impact. One source described her as 'a breath of fresh air'. Two others said that she had made a very good impression not only in speeches to Olympic partners but with the rank and file. Another said she was 'as tough as nails but very friendly'. Coventry is already displaying a more human approach to Bach, who came across as part Gordon Brown, part Otto von Bismarck, Presbyterian and Prussian, serious and stern. Last week she admitted that she was such a bad loser as a child her family banned her from playing cards. She also recalled how, as a 17-year-old in her first Olympics in Sydney, she had fallen over in the changing rooms trying to put on a Speedo swimsuit for the first time before her hero, the Australian swimmer Susie O'Neill, helped her out. Can you imagine Bach ever laughing at himself? The early signs are also that she will be more consensual. After the handover on Monday there will be a two-day session with IOC members to brainstorm ideas in five areas. I am told that Juan Antonio Samaranch, who came second to her in the IOC presidential election, will lead the finance and revenue section, which suggests more of a big tent approach. When I asked Coventry last week about the leaders she admired and had learned from, she pointed to Strive Masiyiwa, the founder and executive chairman of Econet, and something he had told her. 'One of the biggest things he shared with me was to always know your strengths and weaknesses,' she said. 'And never be too proud to get someone that knows something in your weak spots that's going to be better than you. Because they're ultimately going to make you stronger'. What of policy? Here there will be differences from Bach, too. Coventry has already said she will protect the female category, and promised to set up a taskforce during her campaign. One person with knowledge of her views said the issue was 'front and centre for her'. And that, while it wouldn't happen overnight, they believed there would be little pushback when it came to banning transgender athletes in female sport. They also predicted the 2021 IOC guidelines would be revised and that, ultimately, Olympic sports will end up using the cheek-swab test. I also expect a different approach when it comes to how the 2036 Olympics is awarded. In 2021, Bach controversially gave the 2032 Games to Brisbane after almost no consultation with IOC members. But multiple sources say that Coventry will not rush the 2036 decision and also intends to find a way to get IOC members involved. Another subtle shift might come over the IOC's attitude to Russia. There is no chance it will be let back into the Winter Olympics next year. But Coventry has said she will look at another taskforce over Russia and there is a widespread expectation that ways will be found to let more of the country's athletes compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Of course not everything will change. Like Bach, Coventry is 'passionately against' giving prize money to athletes, believing that the IOC's money is better spent on young athletes coming through. And while Coventry is likely to enjoy a honeymoon period, she knows there are landmines lurking everywhere. Take your pick from dealing with Donald Trump, Ukraine, the Middle East, the need to attract new sponsors. Then also chuck in the need to keep Olympic sports relevant not just at Games time, dealing with changing viewing habits, issues with the Olympic Broadcasting Services. And that is just for starters. Clearly there is a chance that early optimism and desire for change will become blunted. Even the biggest of beasts would struggle to lead a mammoth organisation that not only runs the Olympics but is a cheerleader, funder and regulator for much of sport. But Coventry seems aware of the dangers and the doubters, and ready to tackle them head on. Last week, for instance, she also spoke about being an underdog as an athlete before cleverly relating it to her new job as IOC president. 'I like that people tend to look at me and be like: 'Oh, she is very young and maybe she hasn't got much experience,'' she said. 'I haven't worked in a big corporate. But there are a lot of things I've gone through that no one else has. All those people who may look at me and see one thing, kind of excites me. Because I think that they won't see what is coming.' Those are punch words. But you don't swim for hours every day in a cold pool, win seven Olympic medals and break five world records without being steely and determined. It would be wise not to underestimate her. A new dawn may be about to break.


Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
South Korea's Lee names first civilian defence minister in decades
SEOUL, June 23 (Reuters) - South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung named veteran lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back as the country's first civilian defence minister in 64 years on Monday, making good on a campaign promise made after December's martial law shook faith in the military. Lee, who took office on June 4 after winning a snap election called when former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office over the martial law attempt, also named 10 other cabinet ministers including former U.N. ambassador Cho Hyun as foreign minister and a North Korea diplomacy advocate, Chung Dong-young, as unification minister, his office said. Yoon's defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, played a leading role in recommending and planning the martial law, and is in jail amid an ongoing trial on insurrection charges. The nominations, which do not require parliamentary approval but will be reviewed in at-times contentious hearings, come as Lee works to form a new cabinet and staff his office. He took office the day after the election without a transition period, as Yoon was ousted in April for breaching the duties of his office with December's martial law declaration, which he reversed after parliament defied him. Lee has worked with an acting prime minister and a cabinet carried over from Yoon's administration as he tackles the job of uniting a bitterly divided country and formulating a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariffs. He has pledged to pursue diplomacy pillared on pragmatism with a focus on support for the export-heavy economy's global companies in the fields of automobiles, semiconductors and steelmaking. Earlier this month he named a long-term member of parliament and a key political ally, Kim Min-seok, to be his prime minister, a post that requires parliamentary approval. Lee on Monday also nominated new ministers for agriculture, environment, labour and maritime affairs, among others.