Zambia’s manage courtroom has barred former President Edgar Lungu from status for re-election in 2026.

The Constitutional Court docket dominated that the 68-year-old baby-kisser had already served the utmost two phrases allowed through legislation.

Lungu was once first elected president in January 2015 to lend the difference 20 months of his predecessor’s time period. President Michael Sata had died in place of job in October 2014.

Lungu had argued that this must now not depend as he didn’t lend a complete five-year time period. However the courtroom disagreed – reversing earlier rulings that had cleared him to run 3 years in the past when he misplaced to Hakainde Hichilema.

“Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has therefore been twice elected and has twice held office. The [constitution] makes him ineligible to participate in any future elections as a presidential candidate,” the courtroom dominated.

Terminating life, Lungu was once picked through the opposition Tonse Alliance to be its presidential candidate within the 2026 election to problem President Hichilema.

Their collection of Lungu got here a 12 months nearest Zambia’s executive withdrew his leaving advantages and privileges following his choice to go back to lively politics.

As a part of efforts to restore his nation profile, Lungu had began jogging in nation together with participants of the nation and his supporters – which the police termed as “political activism”.

In a progress that angered Lungu’s supporters in October, President Hichilema sacked 3 manage judges who had taken section within the arguable ruling that had allowed Lungu to rise within the 2021 elections.

On the year the presidency defended the dismissals pronouncing Hichilema was once certain through the verdict of the Judicial Court cases Fee that had ambitious the judges must be got rid of following allegations of judicial misconduct.

On Tuesday, the federal government welcomed the Constitutional Court docket’s ruling in what has been a long-running prison fight.

“This decision provides legal clarity for citizens and safeguards our democracy, allowing us to look forward to free, fair and competitive elections in 2026,” Legal professional Common Mulilo Kabesha stated in a observation.

Following Sata’s demise and Lungu’s first election, the charter was once amended in order that the vice-president mechanically takes place of job if a sitting president dies.