REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST MR. HICHILEMA: US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Petitioned To Impose Sanctions On Mr. Hakainde Hichilema For Ordering The Extra Judicial Killing Of For Commerce Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya & ECZ Chairperson Mwanzala Zaloumis For Circumventing The Will Of The Zambian People Through A Fraudulent Election
REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST MR. HICHILEMA: US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Petitioned To Impose Sanctions On Mr. Hakainde Hichilema For Ordering The Extra Judicial Killing Of For Commerce Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya & ECZ Chairperson Mwanzala Zaloumis For Circumventing The Will Of The Zambian People Through A Fraudulent Election
Yesterday, I petitioned the U.S. Department of State to impose sanctions on President Hakainde Hichilema and Zambia Army Commander Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Zyeele for ordering the extra-judicial killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya as well as Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis and others for subverting the will of the people of Zambia in the fraudulent August 13, 2026 election.
Others whose names are submitted for possible sanctions are Brigadier General Moses Shapwaya for executing the order to eliminate Kafwaya and Fanwell Siandenge, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Special Duties for being part of the planning process.
Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Media, Maambo Haamaundu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Dickson Matembo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Home Affairs have also been reported for attempting to conceal the heinous crime.
In addition to Zaloumis, all Electoral Commission of Zambia commissioners are also reported for participating in the systematic stealing of the election as attested by EU Election Observation Mission to Zambia.
THE FULL LETTER
August 18, 2026
Senator Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
United States Department of State
Washington, D.C.
United States of America
RE: TARGETED SANCTIONS ON PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, ZAMBIA ARMY COMMANDER LT. GEN GEOFFREY CHOONGO ZYEELE & OTHERS ARISING FROM THE MILITARY ASSAULT ON THE RESIDENCE OF ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MR. BRIAN MUNDUBILE & ECZ CHAIRPERSON MWANGALA ZALOUMIS FOR SUBVERTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
Dear Mr. Rubio
My name is Augustine Mukoka, a journalist, good governance activist and Zambian native currently residing in the United States of America, but with significant interest in the governance of the country of my birth.
As such, I write to your good office to beseech the United States government to impose sanctions on specific individuals while investigating the confirmed deployment of armed security personnel, including elements of the Zambia Army Special Forces, to the private residence of opposition NRPUP leader and presidential candidate Hon. Brian Mundubile.
The request to investigate was made on August 14, 2026 through the US State Department Bureau on African Affairs which is under your discretion.
May I also appeal to you that more appropriate measures against any officials whom a credible investigation establishes to have ordered, authorized, facilitated, executed, concealed, or otherwise been responsible for the serious human-rights violation connected with the operation be imposed.
Mr. Secretary, the action by the Zambian government that authorized the army to invade a private property during a civic process such as an election is extraordinarily grave.
The statement by the Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Patrick Kangwa confirming there was gunfire at Mr. Mundubile’s residence provides probable cause for sanctions more so that there are reported injuries, missing property, possible deaths and uncertainty surrounding members of his political and security team.
What is even more serious is the revelation that former Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya, who was unarmed, was shot twice in the chest. And as a consequence, he is feared dead.
The shooting of Mr. Kafwaya was witnessed by Mr. Mundubile who survived the ambush. To this date, the Zambian government has not accounted for Mr. Kafwaya following that military operation at a private residence.
For this reason, I submit that the Department of State and appropriate U.S. agencies expeditiously and independently establish Mr. Kafwaya’s fate and the circumstances surrounding any shooting before reaching conclusions concerning individual responsibility.
As submitted, these events occurred in the immediate context of Zambia’s August 13, 2026 general election. An armed military operation at the residence of an opposition presidential candidate in such circumstances raises profound questions about political violence, misuse of state security institutions, electoral integrity and Zambia’s adherence to its domestic and international human-rights obligations.
REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE COMMAND STRUCTURE
The United States, as a significant bilateral partner to Zambia pours millions of dollars into various sectors, has sufficient interest in establishing who authorized the operation, the units involved, the applicable rules of engagement, the operational chain of command and whether lethal force was employed.
In particular, the United States should investigate the conduct and potential responsibility of the following officials:
1. President Hakainde Hichilema — President & Commander-in-Chief As Commander-in-Chief of Zambia’s Defence Force, President Hichilema should be investigated to determine whether he knew of, authorized, directed, subsequently approved, or failed to take appropriate action concerning the reported deployment of military personnel against the residence of his principal political opponent.
If credible evidence establishes such responsibility, I request that the United States consider appropriate targeted measures, including visa restrictions and financial sanctions available under applicable U.S. law.
2. Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele — Commander, Zambia Army
There are serious allegations that the military operation was conducted pursuant to orders passing through the Zambia Army command structure.
The United States should establish whether Lt. Gen. Zyeele issued, transmitted, approved or had knowledge of any order deploying Zambia Army personnel or Special Forces to Mr. Mundubile’s residence and, if so, the legal and operational basis for that deployment.
If the evidence establishes responsibility for unlawful violence or serious human-rights abuses, he should be considered for targeted sanctions.
3. Brigadier General Moses Shapwaya — alleged Special Forces command responsibility
I further request investigation of allegations concerning Brig. Gen. Moses Shapwaya and his purported role in the Special Forces command structure connected with this operation.
Because command appointments and operational responsibility must be established accurately, the United States should independently verify his position, authority and involvement before imposing any measures.
4. Fanwell Siandenge — Deputy Inspector General of Police, Special Duties
The reported role of Mr. Fanwell Siandenge should likewise be investigated, including whether police or State House security structures participated in, coordinated with, facilitated or had prior knowledge of the operation.
AN OFFICIAL STATE COVER-UP BY GOVERNMENT ACTORS
Following a statement by the Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Patrick Kangwa, it is now clear that the state and its actors engaged in a 48 hour cover-up of a heinous crime against humanity. These actors went on rampage disputing the military invasion on a private property describing as “fabricated” and “laughable”.
That is why the United States should also examine whether these government officials subsequently attempted to conceal, misrepresent, destroy evidence concerning, or otherwise obstruct an investigation into what occurred.
In this regard, the actions and conduct of the following officials warrant further examination:
Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Media
Maambo Haamaundu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
Dickson Matembo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Home Affairs.
I emphasize that inclusion of these names is a request for investigation. Sanctions should follow where credible evidence establishes individual responsibility for sanctionable conduct rather than simply because an official holds a particular government position.
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA & CONDUCT OF ITS OFFICIALS
Glaring irregularities, evident bias against the opposition, verifiable instances of manipulation of the number of votes announced at the initial polling station to those provided at the national totalling center provide cause for an urgent scrutiny of the independence and conduct of the Electoral Commission of of Zambia (ECZ).
The involvement of state security structures, the calculated violence targeting polling staff by the governing UPND and elements associated with electoral administration was and is an action that interfered with or circumvented the freely expressed will of Zambian voters. These are exceptionally serious allegations. They must therefore be independently investigated rather than presumed to be established.
Therefore, I submit for the scrutiny of the official actions and decisions of:
Ms. Frances Mwangala Zaloumis, SC — Chairperson, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)
Maj. Gen. Vincent Mukanda (Rtd) — ECZ Vice-Chairperson
Ms. Ndiyoi M. Mutiti — ECZ Commissioner
Mr. Zevyanji Sinkala — ECZ Commissioner
Mr. McDonald G. Chipenzi — ECZ Commissioner
Mr. Brown Kasaro — The Chief Electoral Officer
The inquiry should determine whether any of these officials knowingly participated in, facilitated, concealed or coordinated unlawful interference with the electoral process.
Where credible evidence establishes deliberate participation in serious electoral manipulation, political repression, human-rights violations or other conduct meeting the applicable legal thresholds, the United States should consider individual visa restrictions or other targeted measures.
REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE UNITED STATES ACTION
Given the seriousness of these allegations, I respectfully request that the Department of State, working where appropriate with the Department of the Treasury and other relevant agencies:
Demand an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the armed operation at Mr. Mundubile’s residence.
Seek preservation of evidence, including military operational orders, deployment records, radio communications, command logs, police records, CCTV footage, ballistic evidence, hospital and mortuary records, and telecommunications evidence relevant to the operation.
Establish the whereabouts and condition of every person reportedly present or missing following the operation, and independently establish the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting and death of Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya.
Determine the military chain of command, including who requested the deployment, who authorized it, which units participated and what orders were issued concerning the use of force.
Consider targeted visa restrictions and financial sanctions against individuals for whom credible evidence establishes responsibility, including measures available under applicable U.S. authorities concerning serious human-rights abuses, corruption or the undermining of democratic processes.
Examine whether U.S.-origin security assistance, equipment or training was connected in any way to units implicated in the operation, and review future security cooperation where legally appropriate.
Call publicly for protection of opposition leaders, journalists, election monitors, witnesses and ordinary citizens from political violence, intimidation, arbitrary detention or retaliation.
Demand transparency concerning Zambia’s electoral process, including preservation of election materials, results documentation and other records necessary for lawful electoral challenges and independent scrutiny.
ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRATIC FUTURE AFTER A FRAUDULENT ELECTORAL VICTORY
From time immemorial, the relationship between Zambia and the United States has historically rested upon democratic governance, constitutionalism, peace and respect for fundamental freedoms.
Those principles require consistent application irrespective of which political party occupies State House.
The deployment of military force against political opponents—if established by credible evidence—cannot be treated as ordinary partisan conflict. When soldiers or specialized security units are used to intimidate political competitors or civilians, the distinction between democratic government and coercive rule begins to disappear.
The allegations concerning Mr. Mundubile residence therefore deserve scrutiny extending far beyond Zambia’s domestic political contest.
If Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya was indeed shot during this operation and subsequently died, the circumstances of his death must be independently established, the responsible individuals identified through evidence, and accountability pursued through lawful processes.
Furthermore, allegations that electoral officials collaborated with political or security actors to frustrate the democratic will of Zambians must be investigated rigorously. No person should be sanctioned merely on accusation, but neither should the official position provide immunity where credible evidence establishes responsibility for serious abuses.
In view of the above, allow me to appeal to you Mr. Secretary, that the United States Government using its diplomatic influence, investigative capabilities and, where the evidentiary and legal thresholds are satisfied, imposed sanctions on the targeted officials to ensure accountability.
The people of Zambia deserve an electoral process determined by ballots – not bullets; by constitutional institutions – not military intervention; and by the freely expressed will of citizens – not being coerced by those entrusted with the instruments of the State.
Please sir, consider my request for your urgent attention to this very matter.
Yours faithfully,
Augustine Mukoka
Journalist & Good Governance Activist
CC: U.S Secretary to the Treasury
CC: Senate Foreign Relations Committee
CC: House Foreign Relations Committee
CC: The U.S Ambassador – Lusaka, Zambia