ZAMBIA HAS NO POLITICAL PRISONERS UNDER PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, JUSTICE UNDER THIS GOVERNMENT IS RULED BY LAW, NOT POLITICS
By: Chadrin Nseemani
There is a narrative being pushed by some sections of society referring to certain individuals in conflict with the law as political prisoners. This description is factually incorrect and misleading. The Republic of Zambia does not have political prisoners.
Under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, Zambia has returned to full respect for human rights, constitutionalism and the rule of law. President Hichilema is a leader who does not believe in political persecution and can never order or condone the detention of any citizen on account of their political views, tribe or affiliation. His commitment to democratic values is well documented and is today emulated by other presidents across the African continent and beyond. He is widely regarded as one of the best presidents Zambia has had precisely because of his unwavering stance on freedom of expression, freedom of association and justice for all.
Every person who is currently incarcerated or is facing prosecution in Zambia is there as a result of an alleged breach of the laws of Zambia. No one has been arrested for opposing the government. Arrests are effected by professional law enforcement agencies based on complaints and evidence, and not on instructions from State House.
For those individuals whose names are being circulated on social media and by some political actors as political prisoners, it is important to state facts. All of them have clear charges that border on alleged corruption, theft of public resources, incitement, defamation, hate speech, unlawful assembly and other criminal offences clearly stipulated in the laws of the Republic. These are matters that are actively before the courts of law and before the Zambia Police Service and other investigative wings. I cannot comment much on the specifics because most of these matters are sub judice and are being handled by competent courts and the police, who are independent.
The principle is simple. In a constitutional democracy, when one is alleged to have committed a crime, the law takes its course. The courts determine guilt or innocence, not politics. To call such persons political prisoners is to undermine the judiciary and to attempt to place certain individuals above the law.
President Hakainde Hichilema has repeatedly stated that he will not interfere in the work of the judiciary or law enforcement. His administration has freed the media space, allowed citizens to criticize the government without fear, and restored civic space that had shrunk in the past. A government that tolerates and even encourages criticism cannot at the same time be accused of keeping political prisoners.
Zambia today is a country governed by laws. All people that are incarcerated are there as a result of something they are alleged to have done that contravenes the law, and they are afforded full legal representation and due process. That is the true mark of democracy.
By Chadrin Nseemani
03/09/2026