Zambia revokes passports and identity documents of government critics

The Zambian government has cancelled the national identity documents and passports of several prominent critics of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND). According to a Government Gazette, the revocation of these documents was conducted for “security reasons in the interest of national security.”

Among those affected are former Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba, academic Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa, former Members of Parliament Emmanuel Banda and Binwell Mpundu, former State House aide Kaizer Zulu, and blogger Lillian Mutambo. The government has advised all institutions and law enforcement agencies not to recognize or rely upon the invalidated documents.

Celestin Mukandila, whose citizenship and documents were also revoked, has filed for judicial review in the Lusaka High Court. Mukandila is challenging Gazette Notice Number 1418 of 2026, arguing that the National Registration Act does not grant authorities the power to cancel a National Registration Card through a Gazette Notice. In his affidavit, Mukandila maintains he is a Zambian citizen by descent through his late mother and is seeking the restoration of his legal documents.