Mnangagwa claims Shared Law School history with Edgar Lungu

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has asserted a personal connection with the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, claiming the two were contemporaries at law school.

Speaking at the Zambian Embassy on Thursday while signing the Book of Condolences following Lungu's passing, Mnangagwa said, "We were students together at law school. There is a lot of history between me and him and several other Zambians, I did my education in Zambia, of course he was junior."

However, this claim has drawn scepticism from critics who question the accuracy of the President's legal background. Since taking office in November 2017, Mnangagwa has faced scrutiny over a number of legal missteps that some argue undermine his professed legal expertise.

Observers cite early constitutional errors, such as appointing ministers outside the procedures mandated by Parliament-a move that forced Mnangagwa to reverse his decisions following public and political backlash.

Further doubts were raised during the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos, when Mnangagwa appeared to announce election dates that contradicted constitutional timelines, setting polling in May rather than the legally permissible earliest date of July 23, 2018.

Critics also highlight the President's 2017 ultimatum demanding the return of externally held US dollars and assets, despite no existing legal framework criminalising such acts at the time. This directive was viewed by some as a major legal oversight.

Sceptics argue that Mnangagwa's assertion of a shared legal education with Lungu lacks corroboration, pointing to an absence of photographs or testimonies from classmates to support the claim. They say it remains an unsubstantiated "oral tradition."

Despite the controversy, Mnangagwa praised Lungu as a leader with "foresight" who was deeply committed not only to Zambia but to regional development and collaboration.

"We have lost one of our illustrious leaders. He was committed not only to Zambia but to the rest of the region. He was one of us. He was a man who had foresight in terms of development and collaboration between several countries," the President said.

Edgar Lungu lost the 2021 Zambian presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema but reportedly maintained close ties with Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF. Speculation of ZANU-PF support for a possible Lungu comeback in Zambia's 2026 elections has been firmly denied by both parties.

As Zimbabwe and Zambia mourn the passing of Lungu, the discourse surrounding Mnangagwa's claim underscores the ongoing debate about the Zimbabwean leader's legal acumen and his broader legacy.