What does Zambia's opposition stand without Edgar Lungu?
The death of former President Edgar Lungu reshaped opposition politics in Zambia ahead of the August 13 general election. Analysts say the vote will test
The death of former President Edgar Lungu reshaped opposition politics in Zambia ahead of the August 13 general election. Analysts say the vote will test whether his legacy can keep opposition supporters united. Zambia's opposition is entering the 2026 general election without Edgar Lungu, the politician who for years united its biggest parties and inspired much of its support. Lungu, the country's former president, died in South Africa on June 5, 2025. Opposition parties have since been competing to inherit his political legacy while trying to convince voters they remain a credible alternative to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema's ruling United Party for Development (UPND). Lungu had led the now dismantled Patriotic Front (PF) party, a faction of which became part of Zambia's overall opposition Tonse Alliance in 2024. The former president had also intitially been fronted as the coalition's 2026 presidential candidate. Edgar Lungu was Zambia's president from 2015 to 2021 Image: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters/Pool/picture alliance 'The Edgar Lungu factor is still at play' Political analyst Neo Simutanyi says Lungu's absence exposes an unresolved leadership question within the opposition coalition. "He had a Plan B. He intended to back someone who would carry forward his political project, but he never had the opportunity to announce that person before he died," Simutanyi told DW.
Competing claims emerged over who should lead the Tonse Alliance emerged after Lungu's death. The coalition, now rebranded as the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, has endorsed Brian Mundubile as its 2026 presidential candidate. He and Lungu were PF allies, while his running mate, Makebi Zulu, was Lungu's lawyer. Mundubile is widely seen as Hichilema's top challenger. Simutanyi believes Lungu's influence nevertheless remains significant. "It is effectively a PF campaign without the PF label," he said, adding that several candidates are appealing to the same support base by presenting themselves as heirs to Lungu's legacy. "The Edgar Lungu factor is still at play because candidates are campaigning on his legacy and many of the areas where he enjoyed strong support remain politically competitive." Can Zambia's opposition deliver? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A battle for voters Lungu's influence remains particularly visible on the Copperbelt, Zambia's mining heartland and one of the country's most competitive electoral battlegrounds. "Edgar Lungu's absence has left a big vacuum in the opposition, especially in the Patriotic Front. He was the one holding the party together," said Agness Tembo, a young leader from the Copperbelt. She warned that a fragmented opposition could weaken Zambia's competitive multiparty democracy.
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