🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Human Rights Watch Accuses Zambia of Post-Election Crackdown Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Zambia’s police and military of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and physical assaults targeting opposition supporters, election monitors, lawyers, journalists and Government critics following the August 2026 general elections The international rights organisation, in a report published on 1 […]

🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Human Rights Watch Accuses Zambia of Post-Election Crackdown

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Zambia’s police and military of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and physical assaults targeting opposition supporters, election monitors, lawyers, journalists and Government critics following the August 2026 general elections

The international rights organisation, in a report published on 1 November, documented 14 apparent enforced disappearances, 61 cases of reported abuse and 71 arrests or prolonged detentions it considered potentially politically motivated.

“Zambia’s government should break this dangerous cycle of repression,” said HRW deputy Africa director Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz.

She called on authorities to end the crackdown, provide detainees with access to lawyers and medical care, release those held arbitrarily and hold security officers accountable for abuses.

The report also questioned the circumstances surrounding the killing of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation at opposition leader Brian Mundubile’s residence on 14 August.

Police Inspector General Graphel Musamba previously maintained that officers encountered armed resistance and returned fire during the operation. HRW has called for an independent investigation, citing conflicting official accounts.

The organisation further documented the detention of 43 opposition election monitors whose whereabouts, according to their lawyer, remained unknown for eight days. A Lusaka court subsequently ordered their release.

HRW also raised concerns over the closure of court premises between 24 and 28 August, during the period for challenging the presidential election results.

The Zambian Government previously rejected criticism from a United Nations special rapporteur, maintaining that opposition membership does not place individuals beyond criminal investigation and that suspects can challenge their detention through the courts.

“Leaders in Southern Africa and Zambia’s development partners should encourage President Hichilema to restore the rule of law and ensure that civic and political spaces are protected,” Budoo-Scholtz said.

The report comes as Zambia prepares to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term.

The People’s Brief | Goran Handya

3 November 2026