Zambia
As of February 2026, Zambia’s human rights landscape is characterized by a significant narrowing of civic space as the country moves toward the August 2026 general elections. While President Hakainde Hichilema came to power in 2021 promising a "New Dawn" for human rights, observers now point to a return of the "oppressive tools" used by previous administrations to silence political opposition and dissent.
The current critical issues include:
1. Crackdown on Political Opposition and Assembly
Ahead of the 2026 vote, the government has increasingly used colonial-era laws to stifle political competition.
Abuse of the Public Order Act: Police continue to weaponize the Public Order Act of 1955 to block opposition rallies. In 2025, several planned gatherings by the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) and other opposition groups were declared "unlawful," leading to the arbitrary arrest of party leaders and journalists covering the events.
Arrests for "Defaming the President": Despite the 2022 repeal of the criminal defamation law, authorities have used alternative charges—such as "seditious practices" or "insulting the President"—to detain critics. In early 2026, high-profile arrests have targeted social media users and politicians for questioning the President’s health or government transparency.
Barring Candidates: In late 2024 and early 2025, the Constitutional Court confirmed that former President Edgar Lungu is ineligible to run in 2026, a move that his supporters claim is a politically motivated attempt to eliminate strong opposition.
2. Digital Repression and the 2025 Cyber Laws
In April 2025, the Zambian Parliament enacted the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act, which have fundamentally altered the digital rights environment.
Surveillance Powers: These laws grant law enforcement broad authority to intercept private communications and collect real-time data without a warrant if they "suspect" harm may occur.
Criminalizing Online Speech: The laws mandate up to two years in prison for spreading "false information" or harming a person's reputation online. In January 2026, three individuals were charged under these acts for social media posts deemed critical of the presidency.
Legal Challenges: The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) petitioned the High Court to declare these laws unconstitutional, arguing they infringe on freedom of expression; however, as of February 2026, the case remains tied up in the judiciary.
3. LGBTQ+ Rights and Systemic Discrimination
Zambia remains one of the most restrictive countries in Southern Africa regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.
Criminalization: Consensual same-sex sexual acts remain a felony under the Penal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years to life in prison.
Police Extortion: Rights groups report that police frequently use "stings" on dating apps to arrest gay and transgender individuals, often demanding bribes for their release.
Political Rhetoric: President Hichilema has reaffirmed that Zambia "shall remain Christian" in response to petitions to decriminalize same-sex acts, and religious leaders have intensified their campaigns against LGBTQ+ advocacy in early 2026.
4. Food Insecurity and Climate Rights
Zambia is currently grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis that threatens the basic "right to life" and "right to food."
Acute Hunger: As of early 2026, an estimated 1.7 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher). This is a legacy of the extreme 2024–2025 drought, followed by flash floods in January 2026.
Displacement: Flooding in the Southern Province in January 2026 displaced thousands of people and destroyed farmlands, further driving up food prices and malnutrition rates in rural districts like Monze and Choma.
5. Persistent Rights Violations: Lead and Torture
Kabwe Lead Contamination: The city of Kabwe remains one of the most polluted places on Earth due to decades of lead mining. In 2025 and 2026, class-action lawsuits have intensified against mining giants, with NGOs highlighting that thousands of children are suffering from permanent brain damage while the state has failed to provide adequate remediation.
Police Brutality: The National Human Rights Commission (HRC) has flagged a rise in reports of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody during 2025, noting that accountability for such "excesses" remains rare.