On 11 September 2026, the Government of Zambia, through a Government Gazette, cancelled passports for 6 individuals: Emmanuel Mwamba; Emmanuel Jay Banda; Binwell Mpundu; Peter Kaiser Zulu; Sishuwa Sishuwa; and Lillian Mutambo. The authorities reportedly cited national security as the basis for the cancellations. However, this has raised national and international concerns that the measures may restrict freedom of movement and may silence government critics. The reported cancellations raise broader human rights and civic-space concerns, particularly regarding the right to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and the ability of civil society actors, journalists, human rights defenders and other citizens to engage in public debate and hold authorities accountable.
These cancellations come against a backdrop of heightened political tension following the just-ended 2026 General elections, where leading opposition party members of NRPUP disputed the results; this was later followed by the Security operation conducted at opposition Presidential Candidate Brian Mundubile’s residence on 14 August. The 6 individuals whose passports were cancelled have been strong critics of these actions by the government and have continued to use their social media platforms to share various news stories. Despite Section 69 of the Penal Code being repealed in 2022, many political players and critics have been arrested and charged under the Cyber Security Act of 2025 and the Cyber Crimes Act of 2025. This is particularly significant in the current post-election environment, where civil society organisations are already operating in a politically sensitive context. Administrative measures against individuals publicly critical of the government may create uncertainty among CSOs about the consequences of speaking publicly on governance, human rights, and accountability issues.