Zambia: Authorities Must Investigate Fatal Shooting of Former Minister and End Post-Election Crackdown
[AI London] Responding to the reported fatal shooting of opposition party member and former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation in Kabulonga, Lusaka on 14 August, and the arrest of at least three other opposition members, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said:
Amnesty International has called for an urgent, thorough and impartial investigation into the reported fatal shooting of opposition party member and former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya in Zambia on 14 August. The organization's East and Southern Africa Regional Director, Tigere Chagutah, stated that Kafwaya's death is deeply concerning, particularly as it comes after reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions of opposition members during the electoral period.
Chagutah emphasized that the Zambian authorities must investigate Kafwaya's death, establish the circumstances surrounding it, and hold any responsible individuals accountable through fair trials. Furthermore, authorities must ensure access to justice and remedies for Kafwaya's family. The organization also urged the authorities to promptly address the rights to life, liberty and a fair trial, as stated in Zambia's Constitution and international human rights law.
Amnesty International further demanded that detainees be given immediate access to lawyers and their families, necessary medical care, and be promptly brought before an independent and impartial court. They called for an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions of opposition members and a cessation of the growing crackdown on peaceful dissent ahead of the 2026 general election in Zambia.
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