Protesters Overshadow Haimbe’s Speech As Zambians in New York Demand UN Action, Targeted Sanctions Over Zambia’s Post-Election Crackdown NEW YORK, September 26, 2026 — Concerned Zambians in the United States today demonstrated outside the United Nations in New York, calling for urgent international action over what they described as a serious deterioration in human rights, […]

Protesters Overshadow Haimbe’s Speech As Zambians in New York Demand UN Action, Targeted Sanctions Over Zambia’s Post-Election Crackdown

• Urges UN Member States not to elect Zambia to the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term

NEW YORK, September 26, 2026 — Concerned Zambians in the United States today demonstrated outside the United Nations in New York, calling for urgent international action over what they described as a serious deterioration in human rights, democratic governance, civic space, media freedom 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.

The protesters demanded that the United Nations, Member States and regional institutions take concrete action, 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.

They called for targeted travel bans and asset freezes, stressing that measures should be directed at responsible individuals.

Electoral and human-rights concerns

The protesters cited a pattern of developments before, during and after the election that they said 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;
• 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 fatal shooting of former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation at a property linked to opposition leader Brian Mundubile;
• the arrest and detention of opposition figures, including Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, on serious criminal charges including treason;
• the closure and cordoning-off of courts on August 24, coinciding with the constitutional deadline for filing a presidential election petition;
• mass arrests and reports of arbitrary detention of opposition supporters, activists and perceived government critics;
• restrictions and regulatory action affecting independent media and journalists;
• restrictions on peaceful assembly and political activity;
• reported intimidation, harassment and abductions of critics and opposition supporters;
• and the cancellation of passports belonging to government critics and opposition figures.

The protesters noted that concerns about Zambia’s electoral environment and post-election developments have been raised by Zambian civil society organisations, the European Union Election Observation Mission, regional and international election observers, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, international legal and human-rights organisations, and UN human-rights mechanisms, including UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

The EU EOM has raised concerns about restrictions on fundamental freedoms, an uneven electoral playing field and irregularities in the counting and tabulation process.

Demands for international action

The protesters demanded that the United Nations and Member States:

• Strengthen UN monitoring of Zambia’s human-rights situation, including through the UN Human Rights Council and relevant Special Procedures;
• Facilitate visits by relevant UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom of opinion and expression, arbitrary detention, and the independence of judges and lawyers;
• Conduct an independent assessment of reported violations, including arbitrary detention, political repression, restrictions on media freedom and peaceful assembly, and the conduct of security forces;
• Demand an independent investigation into the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya, including the circumstances surrounding the security operation and accountability where evidence establishes responsibility;
• Demand an independent investigation into the six-hour suspension of the counting process, including its legal basis and implications for electoral transparency;
• Demand an investigation into the closure of the courts on August 24, including its implications for access to justice and the constitutional right to challenge presidential election results;
• Ensure due process for political detainees, including access to legal counsel, family members and an independent judiciary, and the release of anyone held arbitrarily;
• Protect independent media, journalists, civil society organisations and human-rights defenders from intimidation, arbitrary detention, closure or politically motivated prosecution;
• Demand the restoration of passports belonging to government critics and opposition figures where their cancellation was not based on lawful and non-discriminatory grounds;
• Impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on President Hakainde Hichilema, Lieutenant General Geoffrey C. Zyeele and other officials where credible evidence establishes individual responsibility for serious human-rights violations.

The protestors also called upon UN Member States not to elect Zambia to the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term, and to withhold their votes unless and until the serious concerns surrounding the country’s human-rights and electoral record are independently addressed.

A call for accountability

The protesters said the accumulation of concerns requires sustained international attention and independent scrutiny.

They called on the international community to engage directly with affected communities, opposition figures, journalists, civil society organisations and independent institutions, and urged the Zambian authorities to uphold constitutional protections, judicial independence, political freedoms and fundamental human rights.

“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,” said Augustine Mukoka, Spokesperson for US Zambian Protests.

ENDS

Media contact:
Augustine Mukoka – Zambian Protests