By Chali Ngalande
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) is a government that preaches democracy but practices repression. It rode into office on a wave of hope, promising to end the human rights abuses and political violence that defined the Patriotic Front (PF) era. President Hakainde Hichilema and his government pledged a new dawn of democracy, free expression and the rule of law.
Yet, a recent report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Irene Khan, exposes a troubling reality: the UPND government is sliding into the same oppressive tendencies it once condemned.
While the UPND administration boasts about abolishing Defamation of the President as an offence, it has merely replaced direct censorship with more insidious tactics. According to Khan’s report, laws such as criminal libel, insult, seditious practices and hate speech remain on the books and are actively used to suppress dissent.
These vague and overly broad laws give the police and prosecution excessive discretion, allowing them to selectively target opposition figures and critics of the government.
Under the PF, Zambia witnessed the brutal closure of independent media outlets and violent attacks on journalists. The UPND may not be shutting down news stations, but it is using legal threats, arrests and selective prosecution to silence critical voices.
This strategy is equally dangerous because it creates an illusion of free speech while systematically intimidating those who challenge the ruling party’s narrative.
The notorious Public Order Act, a relic of colonial oppression, continues to be a tool for political suppression under the UPND. Despite acknowledging its flaws, the government has delayed repealing it, ensuring that police still have unchecked power to block opposition rallies and protests.
As the country moves closer to the 2026 elections, the selective application of the Public Order Act risks inflaming regional and ethnic divisions. The government’s failure to reform this law suggests a deliberate strategy to weaken opposition mobilisation while allowing UPND-aligned groups to operate freely.
This hypocrisy erodes trust in democratic institutions and fuels resentment among marginalised communities.
The UPND government has inherited and expanded Zambia’s cyber surveillance apparatus. The Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which was widely criticised under PF rule, remains in place and is being used to police online speech.
The UN Special Rapporteur warns that this law imposes overly broad restrictions on digital content, creating the potential for abuse and arbitrary enforcement.
Khan notes a worrying rise in state-sponsored disinformation and manipulation of online spaces. Instead of fostering open dialogue, the government is reportedly engaging in cyber propaganda to counter opposition narratives.
The chilling effect of these tactics means that many citizens, fearing retaliation, are self-censoring rather than expressing their true opinions about governance.
Media freedom in Zambia remains under siege. While the country enjoys a diverse media landscape, the reality is that state-owned broadcasters function as little more than propaganda arms of the UPND.
Independent journalists are often pressured to align their coverage with the ruling party’s interests, and commercial media outlets that support opposition views face various forms of harassment, including denial of opportunities to do business with the government and quasi-government institutions.
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which is meant to regulate the media impartially, is instead reinforcing state control. Board members report directly to the minister of Information and Media, and the appeals process for broadcasting licences remains subject to political interference.
Until these institutions are truly independent, Zambia will not have a free press – only a controlled and censored media environment.
For a democracy to function, the judiciary must be independent. However, concerns about political interference in the courts are growing. The UN Special Rapporteur points out that the President’s ability to appoint and remove judges and commissioners undermines public trust in the Judiciary’s impartiality. When politically motivated cases come before the courts, the outcome often seems predetermined.
Opposition leaders, activists and critical voices find themselves facing lengthy legal battles, while politically connected figures benefit from selective leniency. If the Judiciary cannot act independently, then justice in Zambia will always be at the mercy of those in power.
Human rights in Zambia stand at a dangerous crossroads, as the UN Special Rapporteur has rightly observed. The UPND government still has time to correct its course, but the window for meaningful reform is closing fast.
Instead of merely paying lip service to human rights, the Hakainde Hichilema-led administration must take concrete action: End selective prosecution – laws restricting free speech must be repealed, and opposition leaders must not be targeted for expressing dissent.
Reform the Public Order Act – if UPND truly believes in democracy, it must remove this tool of oppression before the 2026 elections. Ensure judicial independence – the appointment and removal of judges must be shielded from political influence.
Guarantee media freedom – the IBA must be restructured to operate independently of government control. Stop online repression – the Cyber Security Act must be revised to protect free speech, not criminalise it.
If the UPND government does not take these steps, it will confirm what many already suspect: that it is not a champion of human rights but merely another political machine obsessed with consolidating power.
Zambia deserves better than this cycle of oppression masquerading as democracy. The people must demand real change – not just empty promises.
Chali Ngalande is a political analyst.
