His party said in a statement that former Zambia President Edgar Lungu died at the age of 68.

The Patriot Front (PF) added that he is “inviting specialized treatment from South Africa”.

Lungu has led Zambia for six years since 2015, losing the election of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema.

After that failure, he stepped back from politics, but later returned to the battlefield. He had the ambition to fight for the presidency again, but at the end of last year the Constitutional Court banned him from running, ruling that he had appointed up to two terms allowed by law.

Even after he ran for the presidency again, he still had a huge influence in Zambian politics and did not stop his criticism of his successor.

Lungu's daughter Tasila said in a short video that the former head of state, who had been "medical oversight in recent weeks" died at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) at a clinic in the South African capital Pretoria.

In her emotional statement, she added: "In this moment of sadness, we evoke the spirit of 'a Zambia, a nation' - the eternal creed that guides President Longu's service to our country."

There is no mention of what his condition is, but ten years ago, he underwent throat surgery abroad. His office said at the time that he was suffering from a narrow esophageal tract.

President Xixilema called for “solemnity, unity and the pouring of love and compassion in his condolences.

“Let us unite to one person above political affiliation or personal beliefs to commemorate the life of a person who once held the highest position on our land.”

Lungu won the special presidential election with the death of Michael Sata and became president for the first time in January 2015.

After completing his SATA term, he won another five years in 2016, earning more than 50% of the vote.

But after six years at the helm, Lungu, who encouraged China to invest and get help in infrastructure development, has been accused of being in trouble with high unemployment and rising debt levels.

His tenure was also damaged by corruption scandals involving allies and relatives. Lungu always denies illegal acts.

His party’s Youth Ministry is accused of harassing opposition supporters, while the population is the entire population.

Lungu lost Hichilema by nearly one million votes in 2021, and is seen as more intimate and has occupied widespread dissatisfaction among voters.

He said he is retiring after the vote, but returned to the frontline politics in 2023 as his successor's popularity fades.

Mr. Lungu told supporters at the time: "I am ready to fight from the front rather than from the rear to defend democracy. Those who are ready to join this battle, please go with me, I am ready."

After returning to politics, the former president complained about police harassment. At one point last year, he said he was “actually arresting.”

"I can't move out of my house without being aided and challenged by the police," Lungu told the BBC's News Day Program.

In a May 2024 interview, he claimed he was banned from attending foreign conferences and receiving medical trips.

In 2023, police warned him not to jog in public, describing his weekly exercise as "political activism."

The government said Lungu was “never arrested” and he was free to exercise his rights.

Lungu is a trained lawyer, but after winning a parliamentary seat with PF MP in 2011, many political rises in politics.

He served as Deputy Minister of Government in the Vice President's Office that year and was promoted to Minister of the Interior in just 12 months.

Later he became Secretary of Defense and then became Justice. A close friend described Lungu as a "good soldier, lawyer and politician, father, husband and grandparents."

Born on November 11, 1956, Lungu received his law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981.

Later, he merged copper mines in Andre Masiye and company advocates, Barclays Bank and Zambia.

Other reports from BBC surveillance