European Parliament demands independent Kafwaya probe, presses Zambia over post-election arrests

🇿🇲 BRIEFING | European Parliament demands independent Kafwaya probe, presses Zambia over post-election arrests The European Parliament has adopted a resolution raising serious concerns over Zambia’s post-election environment and calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the August 14 security operation in which former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was fatally shot. Released Thursday, the […]

🇿🇲 BRIEFING | European Parliament demands independent Kafwaya probe, presses Zambia over post-election arrests

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution raising serious concerns over Zambia’s post-election environment and calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the August 14 security operation in which former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was fatally shot.

Released Thursday, the resolution, formally titled “Post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya”, passed on Thursday by an overwhelming 562 votes to one, with 33 abstentions.

The Parliament “takes note of the election results” while expressing serious concern over Kafwaya’s death. It calls on Zambian authorities to “swiftly produce clear evidence” supporting the treason charges against opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, stressing that both must receive a fair trial and adequate legal protection.

On Kafwaya, European lawmakers said security operations should be proportionate and called for “an independent and transparent investigation” into the operation which resulted in his death. Kafwaya was killed during an August 14 security operation at a Lusaka property linked to Mundubile.

Zambian authorities have maintained that the operation was connected to alleged illegal weapons and a suspected plot against the State, allegations which remain subject to investigation and criminal proceedings.

The resolution also draws heavily from the European Union Election Observation Mission, which described polling day as calm and competitive but subsequently raised concerns about incidents and procedural weaknesses during counting and tabulation.

Parliament called on Government to “swiftly investigate the serious incidents and irregularities” identified during the process and implement the mission’s recommendations to strengthen public confidence.

European lawmakers further expressed concern about what the resolution describes as a “shrinking of civil space in Zambia”, while urging political actors to pursue grievances peacefully and through established legal procedures

Significantly, the resolution does not reject Hakainde Hichilema’s declared re-election or declare a different winner. It explicitly takes note of the election result while directing its strongest demands towards investigation, due process and institutional accountability.

The vote represents one of the strongest institutional expressions of international concern over Zambia’s post-election developments since the August 13 election.

At the same time, Parliament reaffirmed the European Union’s “longstanding partnership with Zambia” and its support for “a democratic, peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the country.”

The People’s Brief  | Ollus R. Ndomu