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Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Mwamba, has written to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), raising concerns over President Hakainde Hichilema’s actions that, he alleges, threaten Zambia’s democracy.
In the letter dated November 17, 2025, Mwamba claimed that President Hichilema’s actions jeopardized the rule of law and were aimed at undermining the 2026 General Elections.
The letter was addressed to both the Chairperson of SADC, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security, Professor Peter Mutharika.
Mwamba cited international reports, including from the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United States Country Report, which he said highlighted serious human rights violations in Zambia.
He further pointed to the shrinking democratic and media space, the breakdown of the rule of law, and the abuse of laws against political opponents and government critics.
“Zambia is scheduled to hold Presidential, Parliamentary, Mayoral, Council Chairpersons, and Local Government elections in August 2026,” he said.
Mwamba stressed that credible, democratic, free, and fair elections were under serious threat unless the government abandoned its current course.
He highlighted that election-related irregularities, infringements, and violence often occurred well before voting day.
“The SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections mandate member states to hold elections using shared values that promote democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law,” Mwamba said.
He added that these principles were enshrined in the SADC Treaty, signed in Windhoek, Namibia in 1992, which guarantees durable peace and security in member states and across the region.
Mwamba claimed that since 2021, the Hichilema administration had banned political campaigns, protests, demonstrations, and picketing by opposition parties and other social formations.
He accused the Zambia Police of using “security concerns” and the archaic Public Order Act to stop, arrest, and prosecute those attempting “illegal assembly.”
“Although President Hichilema promised to repeal the law whilst in Opposition, he has weaponized it together with other laws such as the colonial laws on sedition reprised to criminalize speech and criticism against government,” Mwamba said.
He alleged that law enforcement agencies had been used as tools to detain, arrest, and imprison political opponents.
Mwamba further stated that the current administration had interfered with the Judiciary, issuing running commentaries, threats, and accusations against members of the bench.
He also accused the President of causing transfers and dismissals of personnel deemed sympathetic to the previous regime.
“Government has passed oppressive and repressive laws that have literally taken away constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms.
“Among the laws passed include the Cyber Security and Crimes Acts passed in March 2025,” Mwamba cited.
He claimed a significant purge of the civil service has occurred, with appointments to key institutions allegedly based on tribe and region rather than merit.
Mwamba also criticized the appointment of UPND members to run the Electoral Commission of Zambia, arguing it undermines the body’s independence, objectivity, and fairness.
“President Hichilema has engaged in systematic processes to steal, kill and destroy the largest political party in Zambia, the former ruling Patriotic Front party,” he alleged.
He claimed the President installed surrogates as party office bearers, displacing the legally constituted PF leadership, with these surrogates recognized in Parliament as Opposition leaders while illegally drawing public resources.
“Consequently, he has caused the banning of participation in elections of the Patriotic Front Party and caused his surrogates to enter into alliance with his Party, thereby denying millions of members of the Party from their right to associate with the Party of their own choice,” Mwamba wrote.
He added that the PF Secretariat, located at the corner of Lumumba and Panganani Roads in Lusaka, had frequently been attacked by both the Zambia Police and the UPND.
Mwamba said party property, including furniture, vehicles, and equipment, had been damaged, and personnel manning the premises have faced brutal attacks.
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