HRW calls on Zambia to halt post-election crackdown

Opposition figures arrested and disappeared since President Hakainde Hichilema claimed August victory.Published On 2 Nov 20262 Nov 2026Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Zambia’s authorities to halt the vicious clampdown on the political opposition that was launched following President Hakainde Hichilema’s victory in disputed elections in August.The rights group demanded in a report released on Sunday that the authorities put a stop to the intensifying crackdown.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Hakainde Hichilema sworn in as Zambia’s president after disputed electionlist 2 of 4Zambia’s Hichilema begins second term after disputed electionlist 3 of 4UN Human Rights Council elects 15 members in uncontested votelist 4 of 4From Morocco to South Africa, Israel election watched closely across Africaend of listIt accused Zambia’s government of silencing government critics, with several members of the opposition, as well as journalists and lawyers, arrested and some having disappeared in recent months.“The post-election climate of intimidation, harassment, and repression has had a chilling effect on civic and political organizations, particularly on dissenting voices,” HRW ...