Human Rights Watch urges Zambia to end post‑election crackdown
HRW calls on Zambian authorities to stop the arrest, disappearance and intimidation of opposition figures after the disputed August election.
HRW’s urgent appeal
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Sunday urging Zambia’s authorities to halt what it described as a “vicious clampdown” on the political opposition after President Hakainde Hichilema claimed victory in the disputed August elections.
Alleged abuses
The organization said Zambian police and military have:
Forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beaten and threatened opposition members and supporters.
Targeted lawyers, journalists and other government critics before and after the August 2026 general elections.
Created a climate of intimidation that “has had a chilling effect on civic and political organizations, particularly on dissenting voices.”
Specific incidents
During the post‑election period:
Opposition leader Brian Mundubile was detained on treason charges after claiming the opposition had won the vote.
Police raided Mundubile’s home the day after the August 13 elections, during which former cabinet member Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed.
About a dozen other opposition figures who questioned the results have been arrested.
Court closure
Two weeks after the election, authorities closed the country’s courts, a move described by Zambian police as an “intelligence‑led and preventive measure” without further explanation. HRW noted that the shutdown prevents the opposition from filing legal challenges to the vote.
HRW’s demands
Deputy Africa director Ashwanee Budoo‑Scholtz called on the government to:
Immediately halt the ongoing post‑election crackdown.
Allow detained individuals access to lawyers and medical care.
Release everyone arbitrarily detained and ensure accountability for security‑force abuses.
Launch an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya.
Political backdrop
President Hichilema was sworn in for a second term after the August election, which critics say was marred by vote rigging. His inauguration took place at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
HRW’s report highlights a pattern of repression that the group says must be broken to restore democratic space in Zambia.
