Amnesty International: Zambia Laws Suppressing Dissent Threaten 2026 Elections

• Amnesty International reports an escalating crackdown on human rights in Zambia, utilizing vague laws to suppress dissent ahead of the 2026 general elections.
• Despite some reforms, authorities are misusing laws and the criminal justice system to criminalize peaceful opposition and silence independent media.
• The proposed NGO Bill threatens freedom of association by granting the government excessive control over civil society organizations.
• Interviews with human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition figures reveal widespread intimidation and harassment linked to their work.
• Amnesty International urges Zambian authorities to end repression and ensure transparent public consultations for all laws affecting civic space.

The report documents how Zambian authorities have intensified their efforts to suppress fundamental freedoms, including the rights to peaceful assembly, association, expression, and media freedom, primarily through the implementation of broadly vague and rapidly enacted legislation.

Amnesty International has issued a stark warning regarding a concerning pattern of authoritarian practices in Zambia, which it contends are undermining human rights in the lead-up to the August 2026 general elections. In a new briefing titled "Authoritarian Practices Eating Away at Human Rights in Zambia: Escalating crackdown on human rights ahead of the 2026 general elections," the organization documents how Zambian authorities have intensified their efforts to suppress fundamental freedoms. This includes a significant crackdown on the rights to peaceful assembly, association, expression, and media freedom, primarily through the implementation of broadly vague and rapidly enacted legislation.

This legislative approach, according to Amnesty International, is deliberately curtailing public participation and civic space in advance of the crucial 2026 polls. The report urges candidates vying for office in Zambia's general elections to commit to reversing these growing authoritarian trends, which pose a direct threat to human rights both before and after the electoral process. The findings suggest a deliberate strategy to control dissent and public discourse as the nation approaches a critical political juncture, raising alarms about the fairness and openness of the upcoming elections.

Despite some positive reforms, such as the repeal of criminal defamation of the president, the abolition of the death penalty, and the enactment of the Access to Information Act, Amnesty International highlights a troubling regression. The report details a growing pattern of misuse of existing laws and the criminal justice system, which are being leveraged to suppress peaceful dissent and consolidate political power. Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, noted that while Zambians voted in 2021 with hopes for change and a commitment to human rights, authorities have instead reverted to a familiar tactic of using legal frameworks to criminalize peaceful opposition and silence independent media outlets.

Central to these concerns is the proposed Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Bill, currently under parliamentary debate. This legislation, if passed, would grant the government extensive powers over the registration, regulation, suspension, and dissolution of civil society organizations, thereby severely undermining their independence and the right to freedom of association in Zambia. The briefing suggests that the intention behind such measures is the selective application of these laws, effectively turning them into instruments for restricting dissent and unleashing the punitive power of the state.

The consequences of these legislative and judicial practices are far-reaching, leading to weaker accountability for human rights violations, a significant erosion of the rule of law, and increasing barriers to accessing information. Amnesty International's May 2026 interviews with 14 human rights defenders and representatives of civil society organizations (including faith-based groups), seven journalists, four student leaders, and two opposition politicians, painted a grim picture. These individuals reported experiencing intimidation, harassment, and other human rights violations directly linked to their legitimate work.

This pattern of repression, coupled with the government's historical tendency to fast-track laws affecting civic space—often debating, amending, and voting on numerous bills within days—significantly impedes public participation in the law-making process. The briefing concludes that Zambian authorities have actively fostered an environment conducive to abuses, further restricting civic space and creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship ahead of the general elections.

Amnesty International is urgently calling on Zambian authorities to halt this escalating pattern of repression against dissent and independent media. The organization emphasizes the critical need for all laws impacting civic space to be developed through transparent, inclusive, and meaningful public consultations. This recommendation aims to ensure that legislative processes are democratic and reflect the will and input of the populace, rather than serving as tools for political control.

The report underscores that without a fundamental shift in approach, the human rights gains Zambia has made risk being reversed, jeopardizing the democratic aspirations of its citizens. Addressing these concerns is paramount to fostering a truly open and accountable society, especially as the nation prepares for the pivotal 2026 general elections.

Lawyers should advise clients, particularly NGOs, media organizations, and businesses with public-facing operations in Zambia, on the heightened legal risks related to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. It is crucial to monitor the progress and implications of proposed legislation like the NGO Bill, as well as the application of existing laws, to ensure compliance and mitigate exposure to politically motivated enforcement ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Source: Original reporting via Amnesty International