Edgar Lungu: 'Ordinary Zambian' with sharp claws

Edgar Lungu, who is vying for another five years as Zambian president, touts himself as an easy-going man of the people but retains a steely edge for rivals and critics.

A lawyer by training, the 64-year-old has twice narrowly defeated his main opponent and erstwhile colleague Hakainde Hichilema, and the two go head-to-head once more in elections on Thursday.

The Patriotic Front leader cut his political teeth as a little-known lawmaker at the United Party for National Development (UPND), the party now led by Hichilema. Lungu quit the UPND in 2001.

He took office after the death of his predecessor, the highly popular Michael Sata, in October 2014.

He won elections in January 2015 for a mandate to see out the remainder of Sata's term, and then secured a five-year term in 2016.

But each time, he surged on Sata's popularity, presenting himself as the late president's rightful heir.

Even in the 2016 elections, the sarong-like campaign freebies known locally as chitenge, which are handed out to the public, had Sata's portrait printed on them rather than Lungu's.

Lungu describes himself as an "ordinary Zambian of humble beginnings" and locals agree.

The tall and slim politician who enjoys jogging is "a people's person" and "very relatable", said analyst Grieve Chelwa.

Before he became president, he spent his downtime enjoying social drinks with township dwellers, locals recall.

But over the past five years his tougher side has emerged, and complaints are mounting that he has cracked down on consent while strengthening his grip on power.

Hichilema was held in prison for four months to face treason charges for allegedly failing to give way to a presidential motorcade -- a move that came after he challenged the 2016 election result.

Gay controversy

On social issues, the Christian Lungu does not hide his conservative side telling pro-gay advocates in 2013 to "go to hell," and more recently in 2019 telling the British Sky TV that homosexuality is "unbiblical and unchristian" and that "even animals don't do it."

Born in 1956 in Chadiza in eastern Zambia, Lungu is from the minority Nsenga ethnic group, but often describes himself as non-tribal and from an unexceptional background.

After graduating in law from the University of Zambia, he took the path into politics, rising to become defence minister before ascending to the top job.

After two previous presidents died in office from illness, his health has also been in focus.

Lungu suffers from recurring achalasia, a condition caused by narrowing of the oesophagus, and was flown to South Africa for treatment in 2015 year after collapsing in public during a Women's day celebration.

In June this year, he suffered a spell of dizziness that prompted a sudden halt to a television broadcast of a defence forces commemoration day event.

He is married and has six children.