Event Summary
On 21 February 2026, sixteen (16) members affiliated with the Tonse Alliance were arrested in Kalulushi District, Copperbelt Province, on allegations of unlawful assembly. The arrests were carried out by the Zambia Police Service following a meeting held at a local guest house. The Tonse Alliance is a political coalition in Zambia formed to bring together opposition parties with the aim of unseating the current government from office in 2026.
According to police accounts, the individuals were apprehended for convening without notifying authorities as required under the Public Order Act. Those arrested reportedly stated that the gathering was a private planning meeting, with some indicating it was related to preparations for International Women’s Day activities. All sixteen individuals were detained and charged accordingly.
The incident occurred amid heightened political sensitivity ahead of the August 2026 General Elections and has raised concern among civil society and opposition actors about the scope and application of public order regulations to private political meetings.