World

HRW Urges Zambia to Stop Post‑Election Crackdown

By Alex Milan Durie

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Zambian authorities to end the intensified crackdown on the political opposition that began after President Hakainde Hichilema’s disputed August victory. In a report released on Sunday, the rights group demanded that the government stop silencing critics, noting that several opposition members, journalists and lawyers have been arrested or have disappeared in recent months. HRW said the post‑election climate of intimidation, harassment and repression has chilled civic and political organisations, especially dissenting voices. The group accused Zambian police and military of forcibly disappearing, arbitrarily detaining, beating and threatening opposition members, supporters, lawyers, journalists and government critics in the days before and after the August 2026 general elections. Ashwanee Budoo‑Scholtz, HRW’s deputy Africa director, called for the authorities to break the cycle of repression, halt the crackdown, allow access to lawyers, provide medical care for those in detention, release all arbitrarily detained persons and hold security forces accountable for abuses.

Hichilema was sworn in for a second term following his August victory, amid claims of vote rigging. At his inauguration at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, his main rival Brian Mundubile was in detention, accused of treason after asserting the opposition had won. Police raided Mundubile’s home the day after the August 13 elections; a former cabinet member, Mutotwe Kafwaya, was shot and killed during the operation. HRW called for an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the incident. About a dozen other opposition figures who questioned the results have been arrested. Authorities also closed the country’s courts two weeks after the election, a move described by Zambian police as an “intelligence‑led and preventive measure” but without details. HRW noted that the closure prevents the opposition from filing legal challenges against the vote.