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

B100417/2026

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

(2026/2876(RSP))

The European Parliament,

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

whereas, on 13 August, Zambia held general elections; whereas the Electoral Commission of Zambia declared President Hichilema the winner with 60.7 percent of the vote;

whereas, on 14 August, state security forces raided a property linked to opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile in Kabulonga, Lusaka, arrested several opposition members, and reportedly fatally shot former Cabinet Minister and opposition member Mutotwe Kafwaya;

whereas, on 24 August, Zambian authorities sealed off court premises and suspended judicial services, thereby severely restricting access to judicial review and the right to an effective remedy in relation to the election results;

whereas, in the lead-up to and aftermath of the election, authorities arrested opposition members and supporters, campaign officials, artists and media personalities; whereas, according to the Zambian Human Rights Commission, at least 84 people remain in custody without formal charges;

whereas, despite commitments to reform, authorities continue to suppress dissent and restrict freedom of expression, association and assembly through intimidation, surveillance and repressive legislation, including the Public Order Act, the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act;

whereas recent incidents, including the arrest of Mcpherson Mukuka and the police summons of Rodgers Mwimba, point to growing threats to journalists and media institutions;

Strongly condemns the violent crackdowns and police abuses surrounding the recent elections in Zambia;

Urges the Zambian authorities to immediately end all threats and arbitrary arrest and detention of opposition members and supporters, and civil society actors, and to ensure that all detainees are informed of the reasons for their arrest and the criminal charges against them, that they have immediate access to lawyers, their families, and medical care, and that they are brought before independent and impartial courts;

Urges the Zambian authorities to ensure prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all allegations of unlawful use of force, arbitrary arrest, and intimidation, and, in particular, into the circumstances of the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya, making the findings of the investigations public, and ensuring accountability for those responsible;

Calls on the Zambian authorities to uphold freedom of expression, press, media, peaceful assembly and association, and to ensure that journalists, opposition members and civil society can safely exercise their human rights without intimidation or reprisals, and that national security laws and criminal justice are not misused against them; urges the restoration of dissidents’ and political opponents’ passports;

Calls on the EU and its Member States to raise the post-electoral human rights situation with the Zambian authorities at the highest political level and to closely monitor relevant judicial proceedings;

Calls on the EU and its Member States to support civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists, including through follow-up to the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the UN, and the Government and Parliament of Zambia.