A police vehicle on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia, August 14, 2026.
Zambian police and military forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beat, and threatened opposition members, lawyers, journalists, and government critics in the days before and after general elections in August. The post-election climate of intimidation, harassment, and repression has had a chilling effect on civic and political organizations, particularly on dissenting voices.The authorities should immediately halt the crackdown, allow access to lawyers and medical care to detainees, release everyone arbitrarily detained, and ensure accountability for abuses.
(Johannesburg) – The Zambian police and military forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beat, and threatened opposition members and supporters as well as lawyers, journalists, and government critics in the days before and after general elections in August 2026, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities have also yet to credibly explain or investigate the killing of an opposition leader in contested circumstances.
“Zambia’s government should break this dangerous cycle of repression,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should immediately halt the ongoing post-election crackdown, allow access to lawyers and provide medical care for those in detention, release everyone arbitrarily detained, and ensure accountability for abuses by security forces.”
President Hakainde Hichilema was reelected in the August 13 election, which observers said was marred by irregularities such as a suspension of counting and limited fundamental freedoms. From August 24 to 28, the authorities suspended judicial services and prevented legal challenges to the presidential election results, closing and cordoning off court premises. Zambian police stated that the closures were an “intelligenc
