Presidential eligibility of Edgar Lungu

In 2021, a Lusaka businessman Michelo Chizombe filed a petition challenging Lungu's eligibility to run for a third term in the 2021 General Election and beyond.

[9] The Constitutional Court of Zambia allowed Chizombe's petition to proceed to a full trial, dismissing Lungu's preliminary objection.

It will take a full trial to determine if former Zambian president Edgar Lungu is eligible to stand again, that country's Constitutional Court has decided.

Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) was Zambia's president between January 2015 and August 2021 until he lost to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND).

That left Vice-President Guy Scott the acting president, and saw Lungu serve for only 20 months after he was sworn in on 25 January 2015.

Chizombe argued in court papers that period counts as a term in office, since Lungu was elected and sworn in.

[12] The Constitutional Court has permitted a new petition challenging former President Edgar Lungu's election eligibility to proceed to a full hearing.

The hearing was before the full bench of the Constitutional Court, including Court President Margaret Munalula, Deputy Arnold Shilimbe, and Judges Annie Sitali, Mugeni Mulenga, Mathews Chisunka, Judy Mulongoti, Kenneth Mulife, and Maria Kawimbe.