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Amnesty International has condemned the Zambian government’s decision to cancel the passports of six prominent citizens, saying authorities were using administrative powers to silence critics.
The six affected individuals are former Diplomat Emmanuel Mwamba, Historian and Academic Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa, former opposition lawmakers Binwell Mpundu and Emmanuel Jay Banda, former State House Special Assistant Kaizer Zulu, and blogger Lillian Mutambo.
Government announced the cancellations through a public notice, stating the action was taken “in the interest of national security.
However, in a statement issued in Lusaka, Amnesty International linked the move to a broader pattern of post-election restrictions on dissent in Zambia.
“The arbitrary cancellation of passports by Zambian authorities is a violation of international human rights law,” said Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
Chikwanda said the cancellations targeted individuals known for their criticism of government and for their roles in public and political life.
He said by weaponizing citizenship documents to target dissidents, activists, or political opponents, authorities explicitly breach the right to freedom of movement enshrined in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR.
Chikwanda said the decision came at a time when Zambia was experiencing heightened political tension following the general elections.
“This is deeply concerning, particularly given the wider post-election crackdown on dissent, including arbitrary arrests and detention of members of the opposition and other government critics,” he noted.
Chikwanda argued that the impact of the cancellations extended beyond travel restrictions to fundamental identity and legal status.
“The decision to cancel these passports effectively strips these individuals of their legal and social identity and traps them in a state of de facto statelessness,” he said.
Chikwanda said Amnesty International had documented what it described as a rapid deterioration in human rights in Zambia in the run-up to, during and after the elections.
He cited arbitrary arrests, detention, and attacks targeting human rights defenders, activists, journalists and opposition political party members.
“It undermines their dignity and basic civil protections,” Chikwanda added, referring to the effect of the passport cancellations on the six individuals.
In its background, Chikwanda noted that the killing of former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation marked a further escalation of the crackdown.
“Amnesty International calls on the Zambian authorities to revoke these passport cancellations, restore these individuals’ passports and remedy any harm resulting from this unlawful decision,” he stated.
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