Lawyers representing members of former president Edgar Lungu’s family have challenged the Drug Enforcement Commission’s account of its operation at a Lusaka property, disputing claims that the residence was abandoned and raising questions over the legality of the entry.

The dispute centres on a property in Libala, where the Commission conducted an operation that has since drawn legal scrutiny. The Commission had indicated that the property was abandoned, a position used to justify its actions at the premises. However, the legal team representing the family has rejected that claim, maintaining that the property remains under active ownership.

According to the lawyers, the residence was not abandoned and continued to meet municipal obligations, including the payment of rates. They argue that the description of the property as abandoned does not reflect its actual status and should not have been used as a basis for enforcement action.

The legal challenge goes beyond the condition of the property. Lawyers have also questioned the process followed by the Commission in accessing the premises, stating that entry into private property must comply with established legal requirements. They argue that such actions require proper authorisation and adherence to procedures governing searches and entry.

The Commission’s operation forms part of its broader mandate to investigate matters related to financial crimes and property. Such operations often involve the identification and verification of assets, as well as enforcement actions where necessary. However, the current dispute highlights the need for strict compliance with legal standards when exercising those powers.

At the centre of the case is a question of procedure. The lawyers contend that even where an enforcement agency has grounds to act, it must do so within the confines of the law. This includes obtaining the appropriate legal instruments before accessing private property and ensuring that actions taken are proportionate and justified.

The disagreement over the property’s status has therefore become closely linked to the issue of due process. If the property was not abandoned, as claimed by the lawyers, the basis for the Commission’s action may be subject to further scrutiny within the legal system.

The matter also carries wider attention due to the individuals involved. The property is linked to members of the family of a former head of state, placing the dispute within a broader public and political context. However, the legal arguments presented focus on general principles that apply to all property rights, regardless of ownership.

The case highlights the balance between enforcement authority and legal safeguards. While institutions such as the Drug Enforcement Commission are mandated to act on suspected wrongdoing, their actions are subject to oversight through legal processes designed to protect rights and ensure accountability.

The lawyers’ challenge places the matter firmly within that legal framework. Their arguments call for a detailed examination of both the facts surrounding the property and the procedures followed during the operation. This includes verification of ownership, assessment of the property’s status and evaluation of whether the Commission complied with required legal standards.

The outcome of the case will depend on how these elements are assessed within the judicial system. The process is expected to address both the factual dispute over whether the property was abandoned and the procedural questions raised regarding entry and authorisation.

The case also underscores the importance of clarity in enforcement operations. Descriptions used to justify actions, such as whether a property is considered abandoned, carry legal implications and must be supported by verifiable evidence.

As proceedings continue, attention is likely to remain on the interaction between enforcement powers and legal procedure. The resolution will provide guidance on how similar cases are approached and the standards that must be met when agencies exercise their authority.

For now, the dispute remains active, with both sides maintaining their positions. The Commission stands by its account of the operation, while the legal team continues to challenge both the factual basis and the process followed.

Government has outlined plans to implement a 24-hour economy in phases, positioning the strategy as part of broader efforts to expand productivity and extend economic activity beyond traditional working hours.

The phased approach is intended to allow gradual adjustment across sectors, with implementation guided by infrastructure readiness and operational capacity. Authorities have indicated that the model will not be introduced at once but will be rolled out progressively as supporting systems are strengthened.

The 24-hour economy concept centres on enabling continuous activity across industries such as manufacturing, retail, transport and services. By extending working hours, the policy aims to increase output, improve utilisation of infrastructure and create employment opportunities through shift-based operations.

President Hakainde Hichilema has reinforced the importance of execution in economic programmes, expressing frustration with delays in implementation across sectors. He has indicated that slow action in getting things done undermines progress, placing emphasis on the need for timely delivery of policy initiatives.

His remarks position the 24-hour economy within a broader expectation that government programmes must translate into measurable outcomes. The focus on execution reflects a push to ensure that economic strategies move beyond planning into actual implementation.

While the proposal has received support, stakeholders have pointed to key challenges that could affect its effectiveness. Among the most significant is the issue of electricity supply. Experts have indicated that sustained operations across extended hours depend on stable and reliable power, noting that load-shedding remains a constraint.

The concern highlights a direct link between energy infrastructure and economic policy. Continuous production and service delivery require uninterrupted electricity, making power supply a critical factor in determining whether businesses can operate effectively under a 24-hour model.

Security has also emerged as an important consideration. Extending economic activity into night hours increases exposure to risks, prompting calls for strengthened security measures to protect businesses, workers and infrastructure. Stakeholders have indicated that safety frameworks will need to be reinforced to support operations beyond conventional hours.

These concerns have influenced the decision to adopt a phased rollout. By introducing the policy gradually, authorities are creating space to address infrastructure and operational gaps while allowing sectors to adapt to extended working hours.

The approach reflects an attempt to balance ambition with practical realities. Expanding economic activity requires coordination across multiple systems, including energy supply, security services and private sector readiness. Each of these elements plays a role in determining the success of the policy.

The 24-hour economy is also linked to broader objectives around job creation and economic growth. Extended working hours create opportunities for additional shifts, which can increase employment and expand participation in economic activity. This aligns with efforts to strengthen productivity and support industrial output.

At the same time, implementation will require alignment between public and private sector actors. Businesses must be willing and able to operate beyond traditional hours, while government systems must provide the necessary support in terms of infrastructure and regulation.

The evolving discussion reflects both opportunity and constraint. The policy presents a pathway for expanding economic output, but its effectiveness will depend on how well underlying challenges are addressed.

President Hichilema’s emphasis on execution underscores the importance of moving from policy design to delivery. The phased rollout provides a framework for this transition, allowing adjustments to be made as the programme develops.

As the process moves forward, attention is expected to remain on key enablers such as power supply and security, alongside broader measures to support business participation. The interaction between these elements will shape how the 24-hour economy functions in practice.

The success of the strategy will ultimately depend on whether these supporting systems can sustain continuous operations while delivering the intended gains in productivity, employment and economic activity.

Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has outlined the framework guiding Zambia’s constitution amendment process, stating that the kabesha exercise is being driven through submissions and consultations as proposals begin to surface ahead of the 2026 general election.

Kabesha indicated that the kabesha process is anchored on input received from various stakeholders, positioning the amendment exercise within a consultative framework rather than a unilateral government initiative. His remarks come at a time when discussions around constitutional changes have gained visibility, with multiple developments feeding into the broader reform conversation.

Among the developments shaping the discussion are proposals to create additional constituencies. Northern Province has submitted proposals for 13 new constituencies, a move that directly links the kabesha amendment process to delimitation and electoral representation. The proposal reflects ongoing efforts to adjust constituency boundaries in response to population distribution and representation needs.

The emergence of delimitation proposals has added a structural dimension to the reform process. Changes to constituency boundaries affect representation, electoral competition and resource allocation, making delimitation a central component of any constitutional adjustment tied to elections.

At the same time, a legal challenge has introduced a separate but related dimension to the broader constitutional environment. Court action has been initiated over failure to hold an elective general assembly within a political party, raising questions about adherence to internal governance processes and democratic standards.

While the legal matter is distinct from the amendment process itself, it contributes to the wider discussion on constitutionalism and the functioning of political institutions. Internal party governance is often viewed as an extension of broader democratic practice, linking organisational processes to national constitutional principles.

Kabesha’s explanation of the amendment process places emphasis on procedure and consultation. By framing the exercise as one based on submissions, the approach highlights participation as a central element of the reform framework. This positioning is intended to establish the process as structured and inclusive.

The timing of these developments has drawn attention, as they are unfolding in proximity to the 2026 general election. The overlap between reform discussions, delimitation proposals and legal proceedings has created a complex policy environment in which multiple elements are evolving simultaneously.

The amendment process itself is expected to follow established procedures, including review of submissions, legal drafting and eventual presentation through formal legislative channels. These steps are designed to ensure that any changes to the Constitution are subjected to structured consideration before adoption.

Delimitation proposals remain one of the most visible aspects of the current developments. The submission of additional constituencies reflects ongoing assessments of representation, particularly in regions experiencing demographic changes. Such proposals typically require constitutional backing where they alter the structure of electoral boundaries.

The legal challenge concerning the elective general assembly adds another layer to the overall picture. Questions raised in the case relate to compliance with established rules governing political organisations, reinforcing the broader theme of adherence to legal and constitutional frameworks.

Taken together, the amendment process, delimitation proposals and legal proceedings form part of a wider constitutional environment in which both structural and procedural issues are being examined.

Kabesha’s remarks provide the official framework through which the amendment process is being understood, while the surrounding developments illustrate the range of factors currently influencing the constitutional landscape.

The progression of the amendment process will depend on how submissions are assessed, how proposals are integrated into the legal framework and how related developments continue to evolve within the broader political and institutional context.

The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 places Zambia under fresh international scrutiny, documenting what it describes as a tightening environment for civil liberties, political participation, and public expression ahead of the August 2026 general elections.

The report, released in New York and covering developments across 100 countries, states that Zambia’s human rights climate in 2025 “became increasingly hostile to perceived dissent, criticism, and political opposition.” It attributes this shift to a combination of legal changes, enforcement patterns, and state responses to critics and opposition figures.

Central to the findings are two pieces of legislation enacted in April 2025 — the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act — which civil society organisations in Zambia say fall short of international human rights standards. The report states that these laws raise concerns about privacy, accountability, and the protection of democratic freedoms.

According to the report, the Cyber Security Act allows law enforcement officers to request service providers to intercept communications without a warrant under certain conditions. It further grants authorities powers to conduct real-time data collection, communication interception, and broad search-and-seizure operations. Civil society organisations cited in the report warn that such provisions could expose citizens to surveillance without sufficient safeguards.

Government responded to these concerns through a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, maintaining that the Cyber Security Act “was not intended to invade any person’s privacy” and does not authorise mass or random surveillance. Authorities stated that the law contains safeguards aligned with international digital rights frameworks.

The report also tracks legal action taken by the Law Association of Zambia, which petitioned the High Court in July 2025 to declare aspects of the Cyber Crimes Act unconstitutional. The association argues that the legislation infringes on freedoms of expression, speech, conscience, association, and media activity. By October, the court had not yet heard the case.

Restrictions on public assembly and political activity also feature prominently. The report states that provisions of the Public Order Act of 1955 have been used to regulate and, in some cases, restrict opposition gatherings and protests. Under the Act, authorities can halt public processions that do not have permits.

Findings from Zambia’s Electoral Reform Technical Committee are cited, indicating that enforcement of the Public Order Act has at times occurred “without regard to the basic human rights of freedom to associate and free speech.” The committee raised concerns over police impartiality, political interference, and limitations on assembly during election periods. It recommended reforms to both the Public Order Act and the Police Act, warning that the Zambia Police Service risks being used for political purposes rather than maintaining neutrality.

The report documents several criminal cases involving individuals charged with insulting the president. In January, two brothers, Ernest Kaumba, 22, and Elijah Kaumba, 26, appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate Court on such charges after being held in custody for over two months. They were later granted bail.

In July, two women were sentenced to prison terms of two and three years respectively for similar offences. The presiding magistrate imposed custodial sentences, stating they were intended to deter future offenders and uphold the dignity of the presidency. The offences under the law also carry the option of a fine.

Another case cited occurred in September, when two men were sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour for attempting to use witchcraft to harm President Hakainde Hichilema. Authorities relied on provisions under the Witchcraft Act, a colonial-era statute that criminalises such acts.

The report notes that critics have raised concerns about the application of such laws, stating that certain prosecutions could be used in politically sensitive contexts.

Beyond civil and political rights, the report examines environmental and public health concerns. It details a February 18, 2025 incident in Chambishi on the Copperbelt, where a tailings dam operated by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia burst, releasing acidic effluent into the Kafue River watershed. The spill reportedly killed fish and livestock and damaged crops.

An investigation by Drizit, a South African environmental firm contracted by Sino-Metals, found that approximately 900,000 cubic metres of toxic tailings remained, exceeding World Health Organization thresholds. The company warned that communities could face long-term risks if the material is not properly contained.

Government has stated that the spill does not pose a serious ongoing health risk. The report notes that a comprehensive independent investigation involving international and domestic experts had not yet been completed, and testing for possible heavy metal exposure in affected communities had not been fully undertaken.

The report also revisits longstanding contamination in Kabwe, where an estimated 200,000 residents remain exposed to lead decades after the closure of a mine. Children in the area continue to face developmental risks linked to lead exposure. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Welfare of the Child called in January 2025 for expanded remediation, testing, and treatment programmes.

Between May and July, a government-appointed interministerial committee met on the issue, though the report states that progress appeared limited. Mining and processing activities involving contaminated waste continued in parts of Kabwe, with companies reportedly relocating hazardous materials into open piles, raising further health concerns.

The report also notes that Zambia’s penal code continues to criminalise same-sex relations, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison. A petition seeking decriminalisation was dismissed by the Constitutional Court in July 2025. The report states that members of the LGBT community face threats, discrimination, and detention.

The findings place Zambia within a broader global assessment of governance, rights protections, and institutional accountability, with the report drawing attention to how legal frameworks and enforcement practices intersect with electoral processes and civic participation ahead of the 2026 elections.

Source: Human Rights Watch World Report 2026