Esther Lungu

Esther Lungu
6th First Lady of Zambia
In role
25 January 2015 – 24 August 2021
PresidentEdgar Lungu
Preceded byCharlotte Scott
Succeeded byMutinta Hichilema
Personal details
Born (1957-06-02) 2 June 1957 (age 67)
Political partyPatriotic Front
SpouseEdgar Lungu
Children6

Esther Nyawa Lungu (born 2 June 1957[1]) is a well-known public figure from Zambia, who served as the First Lady of the country from 25 January 2015 to 24 August 2021.[2] She is the wife of the former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, and together they have six children. Born on 2 June 1957, her parents originally hailed from Zambia's Eastern Province.

While she was raised Catholic, Esther Nyawa Lungu and her husband are currently practicing Baptists. In 2015,[3] she travelled to the United States to participate in a series of events, including the First Ladies' and women's summits at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, Texas, and the United Nations in New York City. At the Invest in Women conference in Dallas, Esther Nyawa Lungu was a distinguished panellist, with the session being moderated by Cherie Blair.[2]

During her tenure as the First Lady of Zambia, Esther Nyawa Lungu was an advocate against child marriage. In December 2015, she established the Esther Lungu Foundation, where she serves as the chairman and mentor. The foundation's primary objective is to empower women and children in Zambia.[4] In May 2024, Esther Lungu was arrested for fraud.[5]

  1. ^ "Esther Lungu: Zambian ex-first lady arrested on fraud charges". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "First Lady, Esther Lungu, arrives in USA for High Level meetings". Lusaka Times. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Lungu is a kind man". Zambia Daily Mail. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Zambia: Overcoming Early Marriages". Times of Zambia (AllAfrica.com). 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Zambian ex-first lady arrested on fraud charges". BBC (bbc.com). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.