Kakula urges EU to sanction Hichilema, Zyeele
By EMV REPORTER
A Zambian citizen, Charles Kakula, has called on European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to intervene in a deterioration of human dignity and democratic governance in Zambia following the August 13, 2026 general elections.
In a letter dated September 18, 2026, addressed to Ms Metsola at the European Parliament in Brussels, Mr Kakula urged the European Union (EU) to take action against President Hakainde Hichilema and Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele over allegations surrounding the elections and the August 14 death of former Cabinet minister and opposition figure Mutotwe Kafwaya.
“Madam President, as you witnessed the elections that occurred in Zambia, you will agree from the statement which you delivered in the European Parliament that what was seen has never been witnessed in the history of Zambia since 1964,” Mr Kakula wrote.
He said the deployment of Zambia Army soldiers, including Special Forces, to strategic polling stations and counting centres compromised the electoral process.
Mr Kakula said Mr Kafwaya was killed during a security operation at the private residence linked to presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, saying the incident occurred in the presence of Mr Mundubile’s family and alliance leaders.
He also questioned the findings of the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), arguing that the organisation’s deployment of 1,200 observers was insufficient to draw conclusions across Zambia’s 13,000 polling stations.
“In as much as CCMG conducted a PVT, which showed malpractice, it still declared that Dictator Hakainde won the elections. Such findings leave much to be desired because Zambia has 13,000 registered polling stations, while CCMG only deployed 1,200 polling observers,” Mr Kakula said.
He said the election process extended beyond voting day and criticised the closure of avenues for challenging the election results.
“The closure of all avenues to challenge the elections through an election petition by other stakeholders and leading presidential candidate Brian Mundubile confirmed that Dictator Hakainde Hichilema conducted a coup d’état against the people of Zambia,” he wrote.
Mr Kakula said Zambia had historically been regarded as a democratic and peaceful country and warned against allowing political developments to undermine that reputation.
“Zambia has been a beacon of democracy and peace. We cannot allow one man to destroy what our forefathers fought for in order to continue perpetuating his stay in power,” he said.
He also raised the detention of Mr Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu who were facing treason charges and being held at Mukobeko Maximum Prison.
Mr Kakula subsequently called on the EU to sanction and arrest President Hichilema and General Zyeele and have them tried before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The appeal comes as the European Parliament has itself adopted a resolution on post-electoral repression in Zambia and the killing of Mr Kafwaya.
The resolution, adopted on September 17, calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the August 14 security operation that resulted in Mr Kafwaya’s death. It also raises concerns over arrests, the use of national security laws and the transparency and credibility of the election counting and tabulation process.
The European Parliament vote was 562 in favour, one against and 33 abstentions.
Mr Kakula said his letter had also been copied to the International Criminal Court, the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Holy See at the Vatican.
