On post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe

B100404/2026

European Parliament resolution on post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe

(2026/2876(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas throughout 2026 Zambia has witnessed democratic backsliding, with repressive laws, intimidation and surveillance restricting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and with human rights defenders, journalists, activists and opposition members targeted;

whereas general elections were held on 13 August 2026, resulting in the re-election of President Hichilema; whereas the EU Election Observation Mission found election day calm overall but identified restrictions on campaigning, incumbency advantages, an uneven playing field and serious incidents and procedural irregularities during counting and tabulation affecting transparency and credibility;

whereas on 14 August Mutotwe Kafwaya, a former cabinet minister and member of the opposition Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance, was reportedly shot and killed during a state security operation at a property linked to opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile; whereas authorities confirmed his death only five days later, after his family had been left without official information about his fate and whereabouts;

whereas the operation resulted in arrests of at least 11 opposition members; whereas Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu were subsequently detained and charged with treason; whereas George Chisanga, arrested during the same operation, remains detained without charge according to Amnesty International;

whereas on 24 August Zambia’s highest courts, including the Constitutional Court, were closed for security reasons on the final day for filing an electoral petition, obstructing access to judicial remedy;

whereas, despite the democratic backsliding, the EU has deepened its partnership with Zambia through the Global Gateway strategy, including investments in the Lobito Corridor and the EU-Zambia Critical Raw Materials Partnership;

Strongly condemns the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya and calls for a prompt, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation and accountability;

Condemns repression against opposition members, journalists, activists and civil society; calls for an end to politically motivated arrests and for repressive legislation restricting civic freedoms to be repealed or amended;

Calls for the immediate release of George Chisanga and all persons arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights, and for due process, access to lawyers, families and medical care for all detainees;

Urges the authorities to ensure that criminal justice, national security and treason laws are not misused to silence political opponents, and to guarantee effective access to courts and electoral remedies;

Calls on the VP/HR, the EU Delegation and the Commission to raise these violations at the highest political level and ensure that EU funds, strategic cooperation, including Global Gateway, the Lobito Corridor and critical-raw-materials partnerships, does not legitimise authoritarian practices or prioritise geopolitical and extractive interests over democracy, human rights and the rule of law;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Zambian authorities.