Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu has died, his party says

Zambia's President Edgar Chagwa Lungu addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 25, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

LUSAKA (Reuters) -Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has died aged 68, his political party the Patriotic Front said on Thursday.

Lungu was head of state of the Southern African country between 2015 and 2021, when he lost an election to current President Hakainde Hichilema.

"The former president, who has been receiving specialized treatment in South Africa, died today on Thursday, 5th June," the Patriotic Front's statement on Facebook said.

The party said Lungu's daughter and a family lawyer had confirmed that Lungu had died.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe;Additional reporting by Siyanda Mthethwa;Writing by Sfundo Parakozov and Alessandro Parodi;Editing by Alexander Winning)