Sittings · Document
On post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya
on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Adam Bielan, Tobiasz Bocheński, Alexandr Vondra, Waldemar Buda, Bogdan Rzońca, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Geadis Geadi, Marlena Maląg, Nikola Bartůšek, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Carlo Fidanza, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Alberico Gambino, Assita Kanko, Ivaylo Valchev
Parliament's resolution on post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya condemns the killing and calls for an independent investigation.¶¶¶ It urges Zambia to end arbitrary arrests and intimidation, release people detained for peacefully exercising their rights, and inform detainees of charges and give them access to lawyers, family and medical care.¶¶ It calls for an urgent review of EU financial support to Zambia and suspension of further disbursements where human rights obligations are not upheld.¶
Key points
- Parliament strongly condemns the killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya and expresses condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.¶
- It calls on the Zambian authorities to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation into the shooting and Kafwaya's killing.¶
- It urges the authorities to immediately end arbitrary arrests and politically motivated intimidation and to release all persons detained solely for peacefully exercising their political, civil or human rights.¶
- It calls on the authorities to promptly inform detainees of the grounds for arrest and charges, ensure access to legal counsel, family and medical care, and bring them before an independent and impartial court without undue delay.¶
- It calls to urgently review EU financial support to Zambia and to suspend further disbursements where the authorities fail to uphold their international human rights obligations.¶
Who is affected
- Zambian authorities: called on to investigate the killing, end arbitrary arrests and intimidation, release detainees and respect detainee rights.¶¶¶
- People detained in Zambia: the resolution seeks their release if held solely for peacefully exercising political, civil or human rights.¶
- EU financial support to Zambia: the resolution calls for an urgent review and possible suspension of further disbursements.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 13 August 2026: date Zambia held general elections.¶
- approximately 60%: vote share of President Hakainde Hichilema, declared re-elected.¶
- approximately 38%: vote share of opposition candidate Brian Mundubile.¶
- 14 August: date of the security forces operation in Kabulonga, Lusaka, one day after the election.¶
- five days later: when authorities confirmed Kafwaya's death.¶
- at least 84 people: remain in custody without charges according to the Zambian Human Rights Commission.¶
- 359 million EUR: EU development assistance allocated for 2021–2024.¶
- 153 million EUR: EU development assistance planned for 2025–2027, including 60 million EUR in direct budget support for 2024–2026.¶
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.