In a move that has sparked immediate international backlash, the Zambian government has revoked the travel documents of six high-profile critics. Responding to the Zambia passport cancellation, Amnesty International has strongly condemned the authorities, accusing the state of weaponizing administrative powers to silence political dissent.
The revocation was officially published on September 11, 2026, via Government Gazette Notice No. 1421. The affected individuals include former Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Emmanuel Mwamba; prominent historian and academic, Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa; former opposition Members of Parliament, Binwell Mpundu and Emmanuel Jay Banda; former State House Special Assistant, Kaizer Zulu; and vocal blogger, Lillian Mutambo.
Weaponizing Citizenship Documents
The Zambian government cited vague “security reasons in the interest of national security” as the justification for the sweeping Zambia passport cancellation. The Gazette directed all borders, banks, and government institutions to reject the documents immediately, warning that any use of the passports could constitute a criminal offense.
However, rights groups argue the move lacks legal footing. Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, described the action as a direct violation of international law.
“The arbitrary cancellation of passports by Zambian authorities is a violation of international human rights law,” Chikwanda stated. “By weaponizing citizenship documents to target dissidents, activists, or political opponents, authorities explicitly breach the right to freedom of movement enshrined in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”
A Broader Crackdown on Dissent
The Zambia passport cancellation is being viewed as part of a wider, escalating post-election crackdown on political dissidents under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration. Amnesty International noted that this environment has been characterized by arbitrary arrests, intimidation of human rights defenders, and the detention of opposition members.
Chikwanda emphasized the severe personal toll of the government’s actions, noting that stripping citizens of their travel documents effectively traps them in a state of “de facto statelessness,” undermining their dignity and basic civil protections.
Under current Zambian legislation, a passport can only be canceled on very specific grounds, such as loss of citizenship or fraud. Political criticism is notably absent from that list. Amnesty International is now urging the Zambian government to immediately revoke the Zambia passport cancellation, restore the individuals’ documents, and remedy the harm caused by what they describe as a deeply unlawful administrative overreach.
