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resolution motion, 14 September 2026

On post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya

Motion B-10-2026-0416 · (2026/2876(RSP))

on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: JanChristoph Oetjen, Karin Karlsbro, Malik Azmani, Svenja Hahn, Ľubica Karvašová, Engin Eroglu, Hilde Vautmans, MarieAgnes StrackZimmermann, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Lucia Yar, Dan Barna, Urmas Paet, Michal Wiezik, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Helmut Brandstätter, Anna Stürgkh, Petras Auštrevičius, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová

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AI:In short

Parliament's resolution on post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya condemns the killing and demands an independent investigation holding those with command responsibility accountable. It urges Zambia to stop the post-electoral crackdown, end arbitrary arrests of opposition politicians and stop misusing criminal justice and national security laws to silence opponents. It reminds the government of its international human rights obligations and reaffirms freedom of expression, assembly, association and judicial independence. It calls on all political actors to show restraint and back national reconciliation, and on the EEAS and the EU Delegation to Zambia to monitor the situation and raise the violations in bilateral dialogues.

Key points

  1. Parliament strongly condemns the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya.
  2. It calls on Zambian authorities to hold a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation into the shooting and killing, including the use of lethal force, and to hold accountable those at all levels with command responsibility.
  3. It urges Zambian authorities to immediately cease the post-electoral crackdown and end arbitrary arrests and detention of opposition politicians.
  4. It urges them to ensure criminal justice and national security laws are not misused to intimidate, punish or silence political opponents or others peacefully exercising their human rights.
  5. It reminds the Government of Zambia of its international obligations to respect human rights, democratic principles and the right to a fair legal process.
  6. It reaffirms the importance of protecting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the independence of the judiciary and other democratic institutions.
  7. It calls on all political actors to exercise restraint, reject violence and intimidation and contribute to national reconciliation.
  8. It calls on the European External Action Service and the EU Delegation to Zambia to closely monitor the human rights situation, support local human rights defenders and raise these violations in all bilateral dialogues.

Who is affected

  • Zambian authorities, who are asked to investigate the killing, stop the crackdown and respect international obligations.
  • Opposition politicians and government critics in Zambia, whose arrests, detentions and passport cancellations the resolution addresses.
  • All political actors in Zambia, called on to exercise restraint and contribute to national reconciliation.
  • The EEAS and the EU Delegation to Zambia, asked to monitor the human rights situation and raise violations in bilateral dialogues.

Figures and deadlines

  • 13th August 2026: date of the general elections after which repression surged.
  • 14 August 2026: date of the raid during which Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed.
  • five days: period for which state authorities withheld information on Kafwaya's condition and whereabouts.
  • 27 August 2026: date Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu surrendered to the authorities.
  • 16 others: number arrested during the raid and charged with treason alongside Mundubile and Zulu.
  • six prominent opposition figures or government critics: number whose passports were cancelled on national security grounds.
  • 43 people: number detained for 21 days without charge until the High Court ordered their release.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 17 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 20 paragraphs

B100416/2026

European Parliament resolution on post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya

(2026/2876(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Zambia, including of 18 May 2017 on the case of Hakainde Hichelema,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas there has been a surge in repression in Zambia since the general elections of 13th August 2026;

whereas on 14 August 2026, a joint military and police task force conducted a raid on a property linked to the main opposition presidential candidate, Brian Mundubile; during which former cabinet minister and opposition lawmaker Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed by security forces and state authorities withheld information regarding his condition and whereabouts for five days;

whereas Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu sought refuge at UN premises in Lusaka, surrendered to the authorities on 27 August 2026, were subsequently detained and charged with treason, and more recently, sedition, and are being detained at Mukobeko Maximum Security Facility with 16 others arrested during the raid and also charged with treason, some of whom were detained for several days without charge;

Whereas suspects charged with treason cannot be released on bail while awaiting trial and face life imprisonment if convicted;

Whereas the passports of six prominent opposition figures or government critics have been cancelled on the basis of national security and another after a determination of fraud;

Whereas 43 people, including opposition supporters, were detained for 21 days without charge until the High Court ordered their release;

Read the rest (8 paragraphs)

Strongly condemns the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya;

Calls on the Zambian authorities to ensure a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation into the circumstances of the shooting and killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya, including the circumstances in which lethal force was used, and to ensure that those at all levels with command responsibility are held accountable;

Urges the Zambian authorities to immediately cease the post-electoral crackdown and to end arbitrary arrests and detention of opposition politicians and to ensure that the criminal justice system and national security laws are not misused to intimidate, punish or silence political opponents or other persons peacefully exercising their human rights;

Reminds the Government of Zambia of its international obligations to respect human rights, democratic principles, and the right to a fair legal process;

Reaffirms the importance of protecting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as the independence of the judiciary and other democratic institutions;

Calls on all political actors to exercise restraint, reject violence and intimidation and contribute to national reconciliation;

Calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Delegation to Zambia to closely monitor the human rights situation, provide support to local human rights defenders, and raise these grave violations in all bilateral dialogues;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of Zambia, and the African Union.