Former President Edgar Lungu has been barred from running for re-election in 2026 as he already served the maximum number of terms allowed by the Constitution. Lungu was president between 2015 and 2016 after Michael Sata died in office.

LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's constitutiEdonal court ruled on Tuesday that former President Edgar Lungu was ineligible to run for another term in office after he announced his return to active politics last year.

A Zambian court ruled that former President Edgar Lungu cannot stand in future elections for the nation’s top office, as he has already held it twice.

The former president Edgar Lungu said the ruling to disqualify him has been expected, alleging political interference in the judiciary.

Zambia’s constitutional court has barred former President Edgar Lungu from seeking re-election in 2026. In a decision on Tuesday, Mudford Mwandenga, the presiding judge, ruled that Lungu had already served the maximum two terms allowed by law.

Zambia's Constitutional Court has ruled that former President Edgar Lungu is barred from contesting the 2026 general elections and any future elections, as he has already served the constitutionally mandated two terms in office.

Former president Edgar Lungu cannot run for another term of office or any future presidential election, Zambia's Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday, closing the door on his planned challenge to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema in 2026.

Zambia’s Constitutional Court ruled that former President Edgar Lungu was banned from contesting the 2026 election because he has already served the maximum terms

Zambia’s Constitutional Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that former President Edgar Lungu was barred from contesting the 2026 election because he has already served the maximum two terms.