The Zambian Watchdog writes:
FALSE GLOBAL WITNESSES WILL NOT INFLUENCE ZAMBIA’S ELECTIONS
On Monday 20th July 2026, an organisation based in London and calling itself‘ Global Witness’ will publish hot air propaganda aimed at influencing the elections in Zambia. On August 13th 2026, Zambians will be voting for a new president and members of parliament. Stakes are high.
Even foreign organisations have joined the bid to try and determine who controls Zambia’s resources for the next five years. Zambians should be very vigilant and understand motives, interests and timings of foreign interventions.
The so-called Global Witness will publish what they call ‘investigate findings. One of these claims will be that First Quantum Minerals (FQM) pledged up to US$50 million to support President Hichilema’s 2026 campaign. Further claim will be that FQM benefited financially because of government policy. Global Witness will also allege that tax changes saved FQM approximately US$771 million between 2022 and 2025 and that the company has been shielded from legal scrutiny
But all these are just speculations and unfounded allegations – hot air. There will be no concrete proof like bank transfers (PoP) or signed letters from FQM. A huge organisations like Global Witness with huge funding from huge organisations such as Soros, NORAD, Ork, Ford and many others can surely do better than rely on hearsay and anonymous sources. This is actually lazy journalism.
In the report itself, the main speaker is Zambia’s former ambassador to Ethiopia and opposition spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba. We can be excused for concluding that he is the ‘anonymous sources’ quoted extensively throughout the document containing the propaganda. Shouldn’t big organisations like Global Witness try to be neutral?
It is worth noting that FQM specifically trashed the allegations saying they were unfounded and based on speculation. QFM rightly observed that Global Witness is attempting to influence Zambia’s election.
Global Witness will publish these serious allegations and striking claims but provides no verifiable evidence to enable independent assessment.
The most significant allegation—that FQM pledged up to US$50 million to support President Hichilema’s 2026 campaign—is attributed primarily to unnamed insiders and anonymous sources. No banking records, financial transactions, contracts, audited accounts or other documentary proof are presented to substantiate this claim. The source here is clearly a political competitor and or miner who did not get the contract which FQM bagged.
Similarly, the assertion that FQM benefited by approximately US$771 million through changes to Zambia’s tax regime is made without explaining the methodology used to calculate that figure or demonstrating that such policy changes were enacted specifically to benefit one company rather than the mining sector more broadly.
LET THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE DECIDE NOT ELECTION-TIME ALLEGATIONS
The publication by Global Witness, to be released just weeks before Zambia’s general election, deserves careful examination.
Every Zambian has the right to ask a simple question: Why now?
The allegations presented are not about events that supposedly occurred last week or last month. They concern conduct that Global Witness claim spans several election cycles. If these claims have been under investigation for years, why was the decision made to publish them at the most politically sensitive moment imaginable
Publishers have the right to determining when to publish. But stakeholders also have the right to know why certain documents are published near to certain events? It is about accountability and timing.
The inevitable effect of releasing such allegations at this stage of the campaign is to influence public debate before the claims have been subjected to independent legal scrutiny or judicial testing. Every voter should recognise that reality.
Global Witness is telling Zambians to swallow extraordinary allegations based on anonymous sources and ‘confidential’ information that readers cannot independently verify from the document itself. Serious accusations require serious proof. Reputations, elections and the credibility of democratic institutions should never rest on allegations alone.
Zambians should also remember that those accused have rejected the allegations. In every society governed by the rule of law, allegations and denials must be weighed against verifiable evidence, not emotion, headlines or political excitement by foreign organisations.
This moment calls for sobriety, not panic. Zambia’s democracy must not become a battleground where competing interests, whether political, corporate or advocacy groups seek to shape vote outcomes through untested allegations. The ultimate arbiters of Zambia’s future are not international organisations, foreign commentators or media campaigns. They are the people of Zambia.
As polling day approaches, we urge Zambians to remain focused on the issues that affect their daily lives: jobs, economic growth, investment, education, healthcare and national unity. Elections should be won on the strength of ideas, leadership and performance, not on allegations that can’t be proved.
The ballot belongs to the people of Zambia, not foreign interests.
If Global Witness has personal issues with Tony Blair, they should seek audience with him and talk face to face without involving Zambia. His office is also in London for they can easily reach him.
Stop meddling in Zambia’s elections with unverified content. Bring the truth then you shall be welcome and respected.
