Amnesty International called Friday for the immediate release of Thomas Allan Zgambo, a Zambian journalist detained since October 16 in Lusaka. Zgambo, who writes for the Zambia Whistleblower website, has been held at Ridgeway Police Station without formal charges, exemplifying rising concerns about press freedom and human rights in Zambia.
Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty’s deputy director for East and Southern Africa, emphasized that journalism is not a crime and urged Zambian authorities to uphold constitutional guarantees of free expression and press freedom. Chikwanda stressed the need for the government to honor its domestic and international human rights commitments.
Zgambo’s arrest, following the publication of an article critical of government officials, marks his third detention in the past year. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that previous arrests in November 2023 and August 2024 resulted in sedition charges related to his reporting on government policies and alleged connections between President Hakainde Hichilema and certain properties.
CPJ’s Africa Program coordinator, Muthoki Mumo, highlighted the discrepancy between Hichilema’s public support for media freedom and the ongoing harassment of journalists like Zgambo. Mumo called for the dropping of all criminal charges against the journalist and ensuring that media professionals can work without fear of reprisal.
Zgambo’s repeated arrests reflect broader human rights issues in Zambia. Despite initial optimism following Hichilema’s 2021 election, Human Rights Watch has noted a concerning trend. The government has reportedly curbed opposition activities, often invoking the Public Order Act to restrict gatherings and demonstrations. This pattern suggests a growing tension between the administration’s public stance on civil liberties and its actions towards dissenters and critics.
The international community has also expressed concerns about Zambia’s human rights situation. In mid-2024, Zambia underwent a Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council. During this process, the country faced scrutiny on various issues and agreed to take action on key areas. These included reforming the contentious Public Order Act to better protect freedoms of speech, gathering, and association.
The US Department of State’s 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Zambia had previously expressed similar concerns. It noted the government’s heightened sensitivity to criticism, especially from opposition figures, and its tendency to limit free discussion of public matters. The report also pointed out that independent media struggled to operate freely, often facing intimidation from authorities.
The State Department report further noted that the government has used a colonial-era law on defamation of the president to arrest numerous individuals who criticized the government in a manner deemed derogatory. Although Hichilema announced the repeal of this law in December, at least 13 persons were arrested and charged with defamation of the president and other related offenses during 2022.
The current crackdown on press freedom and political opposition contrasts sharply with Hichilema’s public statements. In a March 2023 Washington Post article, he claimed his government had restored democracy and shored up civil liberties. However, the actions taken against journalists like Zgambo and opposition figures suggest a different reality.
If charged with sedition, Zgambo could face up to seven years in prison. His lawyer, Jonas Zimba, confirmed to CPJ that, as of October 18, no official charges had been filed. The case underscores the tension between Zambia’s constitutional protections for press freedom and the practical application of laws like those on sedition and criminal libel.
As Zambia takes on a more prominent regional role, with Hichilema chairing the Southern African Development Community’s Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation, the international community is closely watching the country’s human rights record. The ongoing suppression of journalists and opposition voices raises questions about Zambia’s commitment to democratic principles and human rights, both domestically and in its regional leadership role.
