Zambia Faces Criticism After Summit Cancellation

LUSAKA — Government’s decision to cancel RightsCon 2026, an international conference that was scheduled to begin in Lusaka on May 5, has triggered growing backlash from civil society organisations, governance activists and opposition voices who say the move has damaged Zambia’s democratic image at a politically sensitive moment.

The cancellation shocked stakeholders because Zambia had already been preparing to host international delegates, digital rights activists, governance experts, civil society leaders and technology stakeholders from across the world. The conference was expected to bring both economic activity and global visibility to Lusaka through hotel bookings, transport spending, tourism activity and international engagement. Instead, the abrupt cancellation created confusion and raised immediate questions about government’s justification.

Linda Kasonde, speaking on behalf of a consortium of civil society organisations, said the decision sent the wrong signal to the international community and undermined Zambia’s reputation as an open democratic society. She argued that hosting RightsCon would have positioned Zambia as a continental leader in civic engagement, digital rights conversations and democratic participation. She said vague references to protecting national values had failed to provide a convincing explanation for such a major decision.

The controversy quickly moved beyond civil society criticism and entered broader governance territory. Critics argued that cancelling a major international conference without clear public justification risks reinforcing concerns about shrinking civic space and intolerance toward independent engagement platforms. Others warned that the move may discourage future conferences, investment forums and international partnerships if Zambia develops a reputation for unpredictable policy decisions.

The timing has made the controversy even more politically sensitive. Zambia is heading toward a general election in August, and governance issues are increasingly becoming central campaign themes. Questions surrounding public freedoms, civic participation and institutional transparency are now colliding with broader debates around corruption, accountability and democratic credibility that have intensified in recent weeks.

The economic implications are also significant. Conferences of this scale typically generate direct benefits for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, tourism businesses and local service providers. The cancellation has raised concerns among private sector players who view international conferences as opportunities to stimulate local spending while improving Zambia’s visibility as a destination for global events.

Government has yet to provide a more detailed public explanation that fully addresses concerns raised by civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders. Until that happens, questions surrounding transparency and policy consistency are likely to persist as political pressure continues building ahead of the August election.