PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Issued by: Rev. Dr. Given Katuta MwelwaDate: 3 November 2026 EU, BEFORE YOU UNVEIL YOUR REPORT, HAVE YOU VISITED MUKOBEKO? As the European Union prepares to unveil its report on Zambia’s 13 August 2026 General Elections and the post-election environment, I wish to raise a question that deserves an honest […]

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Issued by: Rev. Dr. Given Katuta Mwelwa
Date: 3 November 2026

EU, BEFORE YOU UNVEIL YOUR REPORT, HAVE YOU VISITED MUKOBEKO?

As the European Union prepares to unveil its report on Zambia’s 13 August 2026 General Elections and the post-election environment, I wish to raise a question that deserves an honest answer.

What surprises me is that Brian Mundubile and his colleagues had just come from an engagement with EU representatives before the tragic events of 14 August, during which Mutotwe Kafwaya lost his life.

Since those events, Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and other opposition figures have found themselves behind bars at Mukobeko Maximum Security Correctional Facility.

My question to the European Union is simple: Have you made any effort to visit these individuals, establish their welfare and hear directly from them since their detention?

Mukobeko matters because human rights are not merely subjects for diplomatic discussions, election reports or press conferences. They are about real people and their lived experiences.

If the EU is assessing Zambia’s post-election democratic environment, surely the experiences of those currently detained deserve consideration.

Meeting government officials, political parties and civil society organisations is important. However, listening directly to people whose freedom is restricted is equally important.

I am not asking the EU to interfere with Zambia’s judicial processes or prejudge any cases. I am asking for consistency, impartiality and a genuine commitment to human dignity.

Democracy cannot be assessed exclusively from conference rooms. Human rights do not end at prison gates.

Before presenting its findings to the world, I challenge the EU delegation to tell Zambians whether it has sought access to Mukobeko and, if not, why.

We cannot afford a situation where human rights become a diplomatic talking point rather than a principle demonstrated through action.

Rev. Dr. Given Katuta Mwelwa