The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations have both dismissed media reports suggesting that Zambia has been blacklisted from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for alleged failure to uphold human rights standards.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that Zambia is not currently a member of the UNHRC and, therefore, cannot be suspended or removed. Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, Etambuyu Gundersen, explained that Zambia intends to contest for a seat on the Council during the 2026 elections under the African States Region quota for SADC.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Ms. Gundersen emphasized that the UN General Assembly has not adopted any resolution against Zambia. She noted that Zambia was among the inaugural members of the UNHRC, serving from 2006 to 2008, and highlighted that the Council is an intergovernmental body with 47 member states elected by the UN General Assembly to serve three-year terms on a rotational basis.
Ms. Gundersen also criticized the Daily Nation Newspaper for publishing an article claiming Zambia had been sanctioned by the UN for rights violations. She reaffirmed that freedom of expression is a constitutional right but must be exercised responsibly and within the law.
Similarly, the United Nations Information Centre in Lusaka dismissed the allegations as inaccurate and misleading. National Information Officer Mark Maseko stated that Zambia has not sought election to the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 or 2024-2026 terms. He clarified that membership to the Council is determined through elections conducted by the UN General Assembly, based on equitable geographical distribution and transparency.
Mr. Maseko further explained that reports implying Zambia has been blacklisted are unfounded and misleading, adding that such claims create an inaccurate narrative about African countries not currently on the Council.
Meanwhile, Ndola-based democracy advocate Fabian Mutale has called on political players to avoid spreading falsehoods. He urged leaders to act responsibly and refrain from claiming political persecution when the law is enforced.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to advancing human rights and hosting the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, who is expected to visit Zambia on January 19 at the government’s invitation.
Meanwhile, PF is running wild with the falsehood, spearheaded by the braggadocious Binwell Mpundu. How I wish he could be held accountable!
Why she has such a name? just because you are married to a white person doesn’t qualify you to be permanent secretary.
Outside this story. The Upnd contested the idea of ministers remaining in office after Parliament has been dissolved…. now now the same court has agreed to allow HH’s ministers to remain in office after Parliament has been dissolved.
Are we living in a real world or it’s just a dream.
I hope when it’s confirmed that YOU have been blacklisted you won’t come up with confusing semantics.
The media should be held accountable for peddling, buplising and sale of false story causing alarm in the nation without fact checks.
Some people are looking at every opportunity
To paint black the New dawn government.
Unfortunately for them………
The international community and organisations…….
Know who the real criminals are, and it is not the government
FWD2031
Sir give us the figures and from which ministries or projects they stole from. We are now going to four years of UPND rule, how many former PF leaders have been prosecuted and convicted. You are blinded by your leaders in UPND when there is rampant corruption anyway, we are counting down to August 2026 and keep on dreaming about FWD 2031. Kuya bebele bane.
This rough looking Raphael Nakachinda is supposed to be in court but run away to Ghana knowing has a pending case. Next, government confiscates his passport will write to internation community over it. That’s how PF and its members have been rubbished by the international community, worsening the status of Mumbi Phiri. Who can believe PF and its members?