‘End arbitrary arrests, respect due process,’ Southern Africa Anglican church tells Zambian govt

South African Anglican archbishop of Cape Town Archbishop, Thabo Makgoba, has said that the church was adding its voice to growing international calls for calm and respect for the rule of law following the polls.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the church expressed concern over reports that several opposition figures were being held in detention in Lusaka, saying the situation required urgent attention to uphold rights and due process.

“We are deeply disturbed at the detention of a number of opposition figures,” Makgoba said.

He noted that the UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk had called on Zambian authorities to end arbitrary arrests and respect due process and other bodies had also expressed concern.

“We add our voices to that of the UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk, who has called on Zambian authorities to end arbitrary arrests and respect due process,” Makgoba said.

He highlighted that international attention on Zambia had come from the European Union, the African Union, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth, all of whom have voiced concern about the post-election environment.

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“We strongly appeal to the Zambian authorities to allow them access to decent sanitation, reading material and other human necessities,” Makgoba said.

He referenced Bishop Trevor Mwamba, the retired Anglican Bishop of Botswana and a Zambian national who now leads Zambia’s United National Independence Party, UNIP.

Makgoba said Mwamba was among those detained together with Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate, Brian Mundubile and his 2026 running mate, Makebi Zulu among other opposition figures currently in custody in Lusaka.

His wife, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, formerly a Botswana diplomat and Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General from 2008 to 2014, raised the alarm after Mwamba disappeared without explanation for a number of days before it was revealed he was being detained at a Lusaka police station.

“We pray for dialogue among all parties and that the democratically-expressed wishes of the people of Zambia will be respected in united nation,” he said.

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