STATE HOUSE DENIES UN LETTER
…State House assures Zambia committed to democracy
By Mast Reporter
ZAMBIA is committed to upholding and protecting human rights, State House has assured.
State House chief communications specialist Clayson Hamasaka said in a statement to The Mast yesterday, in the exercise of the right to reply, the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration under President Hakainde Hichilema was firmly committed to democracy, good governance and the protection of human rights.
“Zambia’s democracy is founded on respect for the rule of law and fundamental freedoms. No media house has been arbitrarily shut down and no journalist unlawfully detained under the current administration,” Hamasaka said.
He was reacting to the lead story of the Tuesday edition of The Mast with the headline ‘UN quizzes HH over abuses’.
“State House has noted a story published in The Mast Newspaper on September 23, 2025, regarding a letter purportedly sent by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, together with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention,” Hamasaka said.
“For the record, the government of the Republic of Zambia cannot confirm the authenticity of the letter at this stage. Should the government receive official communication from the United Nations, it will be given due and serious consideration, consistent with this administrations longstanding cooperation with international human rights mechanisms.” Hamasaka said as the Special Rapporteur had noted in her report, Zambia had seen a rise in disinformation. Therefore, information should be treated carefully.
He said since 2021, Hichilema had championed reforms to strengthen democratic space and protect citizens’ rights, including the
Repeal of the colonial-era law on presidential defamation, which was long used to stifle free speech and the enactment of the Access to Information law, expanding citizens’ and the media’s ability to hold the government accountable.
“At the same time, it is important to underline that enforcing the rule of law is not a violation of human rights. Due process is not harassment but a legal and civilised way of governance. All individuals in Zambia are equal before the law,” Hamasaka said.
He said journalists, like all citizens, enjoyed full constitutional rights and freedoms, but the profession did not confer immunity from accountability where laws were broken.
“Zambia is a proud democracy where citizens are free to express themselves, organise and participate in public life. The government recognises that freedom of expression and media freedom are cornerstones of a vibrant democracy and continues to uphold these principles while ensuring the law is applied fairly and without discrimination,” he said.
In the letter addressed directly to Hichilema, two UN Human Rights Council special rapporteurs and a working group demanded explanations on the violations of human rights, including arrest and prosecution of journalists citing investigative journalist Allan Zgambo as an example.
“…we would like to bring to the attention of Your Excellency’s government information we have received concerning the detention and criminal charges brought against investigative journalist Thomas Allan Zgambo. These actions appear to be directly related to his legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression, particularly in the context of his professional activities as an investigative journalist and blogger, including his work with the online publication outlet the Zambian Whistleblower,” the UN experts said.
