NO HIDING PLACE
… Zambia deploys global legal dragnet with US, UK and regional allies to extradite citizens spreading falsehoods from ‘safe heavens’
By DAVID KANDUZA
THE Government has issued a stern warning to citizens hiding abroad and orchestrating disinformation campaigns against the State, revealing that sophisticated legal and diplomatic mechanisms are actively in motion to drag them back home to face justice.
Addressing a tense Parliamentary session, October 14, 2026, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporations Mulambo Haimbe assured the nation that Zambia’s sovereignty remained fiercely protected through robust bilateral arrangements with global giants, including the US, UK and neighbouring African states.
The ministerial disclosure was triggered by a pointed question from Mongu Westl Member of Parliament Mubita Nawa.
Reflected by growing public anxiety, Dr Nawa demanded to know why law enforcement had faced delays in apprehending high-profile fugitives who have fled the country, subsequently utilising foreign soil as staging grounds to spread ‘falsehoods’ that the Government were harassing its own citizens.
Responding with measured diplomatic gravity, Mr Haimbe explained that while international law and extradition processes were inherently complex and time-consuming, Zambia’s judicial reach was steadily tightening.
“We have arrangements for legal assistance with the UK, US and other African countries, including our immediate neighbours,” Mr Haimbe told a quiet, attentive house.
The minister emphasised that fleeing across borders did not grant perpetual immunity to individuals who breach Zambian laws.
The ongoing legal strategies aim to directly counter the narratives of ‘hearsayers’—Government critics and political figures who have sought refuge or asylum status abroad while continuously broadcasting unsubstantiated claims regarding the country’s democratic and human rights record.
The fiery Parliamentary debate unfolded just as Mr Haimbe presented a comprehensive policy paper highlighting Zambia’s rising international standing and its strategic campaigns on the global stage.
The paper detailed Zambia’s aggressive diplomatic maneuvers, including its high-stakes bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2027–2029 term.
This international push occurs against a backdrop of intense domestic and external scrutiny, following a recent friction point where the Government strongly pushed back against a premature European Parliament resolution concerning Zambia’s post-election political climate.
By framing the hunt for fugitives within Zambia’s broader international relations strategy, Mr Haimbe sought to project a double-edged message: Zambia is simultaneously a cooperative, rule-abiding member of the international community and a sovereign State fully capable of defending its domestic legal integrity from external manipulation.
Despite the minister’s assurances, legal experts note that bringing back political exiles from Western democracies like the UK remained an uphill battle.
Host nations rigorously scrutinise extradition requests under strict international frameworks, such as the UN Convention Against Torture, and routinely block the repatriation of individuals if the charges appear politically motivated or lack dual criminality.
Nonetheless, the Government’s stance in Parliament signals a shift toward aggressive legal diplomacy.
For the thousands of Zambians wondering when the political drama playing out on social media from foreign capitals would end, Mr Haimbe’s address served notice that the State had no intention of letting the matter slide.
The legal machinery may grind slowly, but according to the front bench, it is grinding forward-KAN