Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu die at di age of 68

Zambia former President Edgar Lungu don die at di age of 68, im party announce for statement.

E bin dey "receive specialized treatment for South Africa" for one undisclosed illness, di Patriotic Front add.

Lungu lead Zambia for six years from 2015, e lose di 2021 election to di current President Hakainde Hichilema wit big margin.

Afta e lose, e step back from politics but e later return to politics and show say im get ambition to run for presidency again.

For inside one video statement, Lungu daughter Tasila say di former head of state, wey bin dey "under medical supervision in recent weeks", die at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Thursday.

"For dis moment of grief, we summon di spirit of 'One Zambia, One Nation' - di timeless creed wey guide President Lungu service to our kontri," she add.

Edgar Lungu: Profile

Lungu first become president for January 2015 afta e win one presidential by-election wey dey triggered by di death of di former President Michael Sata.

Afta e complete Sata term, e win anoda five years in power for 2016, e get ova 50% of di votes.

But afta six years as di kontri leader, pipo blame Lungu for di struggling economy and high unemployment. E lost for 2021 by close to one million votes to Hakainde Hichilema, wey tap into di widespread dissatisfaction among di electorate.

E tok say im dey retire from politics afta di election, but e return to frontline politics for 2023 as im successor popularity begin dey reduce.

"I ready to fight from di front, no be from di back, in defence of democracy. Those wey ready for dis fight, abeg come join me, I dey ready for anything," Oga Lungu bin tell supporters at di time.

Afta e return to politics, di former president bin complain of police harassment. At one point for 2024, e say im dey "virtually under house arrest".

"I no fit comot from my house make police no harass me and drive me go back house", Lungu tell BBC Newsday programme.

For di interview wey dem do for May 2024, e allege say goment ban am from attending one conference abroad and from travelling for medical treatment.

For 2023, police bin warn am against jogging for public, dem describe im weekly workouts as "political activism".

Goment say dem no ever put Lungu "under house arrest" and say e dey free to exercise im rights.

Lungu na lawyer by training but e enjoy fast rise in politics afta e win seat in parliament as Patriotic Front Member of Parliament for 2011.

E enta goment as deputy minister for di vice-president office dat same year and e rise to become minister of home affairs in just ova 12 months.

E later become minister of defence and den justice. One close friend describe Lungu as a "good foot-soldier, lawyer and politician, father, husband and grandparent".

Dem born am on 11 November 1956. Lungu graduate wit law degree from di University of Zambia for 1981. E also do military training for di den Miltez army college for Kabwe.

E later work for Andre Masiye and Company Advocates, Barclays Bank, and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines.