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Concerned Zambians in the United States demonstrated outside the United Nations in New York on Saturday, calling for urgent international action over what they described as a serious deterioration in human rights, democratic governance, civic space and the rule of law following Zambia’s August 13 general elections.
The demonstration coincided with Zambia’s participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and followed the country’s participation in the General Debate on September 25.
According to a press statement issued by the group, the protesters demanded that the United Nations, Member States and regional institutions take concrete action, including the imposition of targeted sanctions on senior officials where credible evidence establishes individual responsibility for serious human rights violations.
The demonstrators named President Hakainde Hichilema and Lieutenant General Geoffrey C. Zyeele, Commander of the Zambia Army, among those they want targeted, alongside other officials.
“Including the imposition of targeted sanctions on President Hakainde Hichilema and Lieutenant General Geoffrey C. Zyeele, Commander of the Zambia Army, as well as other officials where credible evidence establishes individual responsibility for serious human-rights violations,” the statement said.
The protesters called for targeted travel bans and asset freezes, stressing that such measures should be directed at individuals found responsible.
The group cited what it described as a pattern of developments before, during and after the election that requires urgent independent international scrutiny, including the six-hour nationwide suspension of the counting and announcement of results on August 14, from 12:00 to 18:00 hours.
“Reported irregularities and restrictions affecting counting and tabulation, including the presence of security forces and reduced access for some party agents and citizen observers,” the statement alleged.
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The statement also cited the fatal shooting of former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation at a property linked to opposition leader Brian Mundubile, as well as the arrest and detention of opposition figures, including Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, on serious criminal charges including treason.
It further cited the closure and cordoning-off of courts on August 24, coinciding with the constitutional deadline for filing a presidential election petition, as well as mass arrests and reports of arbitrary detention of opposition supporters, activists and perceived government critics.
“Restrictions and regulatory action affecting independent media and journalists,” the statement said, also citing restrictions on peaceful assembly and political activity.
The protesters claimed that concerns about Zambia’s electoral environment had also been raised by Zambian civil society organisations, the European Union Election Observation Mission, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and UN human rights mechanisms.
“The international community should not wait for further deterioration before acting. We are calling for independent scrutiny, accountability and protection of Zambia’s constitutional and democratic institutions,” Augustine Mukoka, spokesperson for US Zambian Protests, said according to the statement.
The group also called on UN Member States not to elect Zambia to the Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term unless and until the concerns are independently addressed.
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