Former Zambian president and Patriotic Front (PF) leader Edgar Lungu has recently announced his return to politics, after resigning as party president and politician. President Edgar Lungu announced his return to politics at the ninth memorial service for the late Zambian president and Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata.

Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu has said he will not allow the Patriotic Front (PF), once the country’s strongest political party, to be destroyed. He has declared himself party leader until a new leader is chosen at a party conference before 2026.

“I will not let the Patriotic Front die, nor will I allow factions within the party or opportunistic individuals to destroy it. I am back in active politics to protect the democracy that Zambians fought for decades ago,” he said.

In recent months, the Patriotic Front (PF) has been on the verge of splitting into two factions. Last week, a conference attended by some PF party members declared Miles Sampa, a Matero Member of Parliament, as the new PF president. However, another faction led by Given Lubinda declared the move illegal. Battles over the succession of President Edgar Lungu have been raging since his resignation.

The Patriotic Front (PF) was founded by Michael Sata in 2001 as a breakaway faction of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). The PF won power in 2011 and remained in power until 2021, when they were defeated by the United Party for National Development (UPND) led by President Hichilema.