IT’S A GLOBAL SHAME
…We’re making wrong international headlines – Kasonde
By Thandizo Banda and George Zulu
IT IS shameful that Zambia is making international headlines for the wrong reasons, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party president Kasonde Mwenda has said.
And seven international law bodies have accused the Zambian government of undermining judicial independence and access to justice following the disputed August 13 general elections.
In an interview, Mwenda said those in leadership should feel ashamed that the country was making international headlines for the wrong reasons.
“This is shameful. It is embarrassing that these people we have in government have taken us back to this. We cannot be making wrong headlines. And we support those calls by the [international] lawyers,” Mwenda said.
And in a joint statement seen by The Mast, IBAHRI, BHRC, EALS, ICJ, LSEW, Lawyers for Lawyers and PALU said they were gravely concerned about the situation in Zambia.
Recent incidents raised serious questions about the independence of the Judiciary and the ability of lawyers to work without fear in the country.
The lawyers have challenged government to conduct an independent, impartial and effective investigations into the killing of former minister of transport and communications Mutotwe Kafwaya, including the circumstances of the security operation at the scene of his killing and the delayed confirmation of his death.
“Establish an independent and transparent inquiry into the legality of the closure of the courts in August 2026, and treat the constitutional filing deadline as tolled for the duration of the closure to preserve access to justice and ensure litigants are not prejudiced by the closure of the courts,” the lawyers said in the statement.
They demanded that the government publish a full, verifiable list of persons detained in connection with the election and its aftermath, and ensure everyone was given full fair trial guarantees, including prompt release or presentation before an independent court.
“Guarantee that all lawyers in Zambia, including those engaged in election-related matters, are able to carry out their professional functions independently and safely, in accordance with the country’s obligations and standards under international law. Restore the cancelled passports pending a fair and transparent process consistent with international obligations and standards and Article 26 of the Constitution of Zambia and establish an independent and transparent inquiry into the legality of the May 2026 judicial appointments and salary increase, and the 2024 removal of the three Constitutional Court judges, and comply with international obligations and standards concerning the independence of the judiciary,” they said.
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales (BHRC), the East Africa Law Society (EALS), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) and the Pan African Lawyers’ Union (PALU) all expressed concern about a series of developments in the lead-up to and surrounding the August 13 general election.
The lawyers cited the deployment of the Zambia Army Special Forces and joint security forces during and after polling, EU observer reports of irregularities in counting, and the fatal shooting of Kafwaya on August 14 at a property linked to the opposition candidate, the death of which was only confirmed five days later under public pressure.
“The undersigned view with grave concern that on 13 August 2026, the Zambia Army and joint security task forces were reportedly deployed during and after polling, as well as reports by election observers, including a European Union observation mission, of serious incidents and procedural irregularities during the counting and tabulation, affecting the transparency and credibility of the election. On 14 August 2026, a security operation at a property linked to the opposition presidential candidate resulted in the fatal shooting of former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya; his death was publicly confirmed by the authorities five days later,” the statement said.
The statement also cited the arbitrary detention of opposition figures, lawyers forced to flee, including former LAZ president Linda Kasonde, who lodged a petition via the Chief Justice’s personal email, and Statutory Instrument No.1421 of 2026 on 11 September cancelling six passports.
Zambia has been the focus of increasing international media scrutiny following the highly disputed August 13 general elections.
