Zambian police and military forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beat and threatened opposition members and supporters, as well as lawyers, journalists and government critics, in the days before and after the August 2026 general elections, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The report documented 14 cases of apparent enforced disappearance involving opposition members and supporters, as well as 61 cases in which detainees, their lawyers or relatives alleged beatings or other violent abuse during arrest and detention. The group called on Zambian authorities to halt the clampdown on the political opposition launched after Hakainde Hichilema’s victory in disputed elections in August.