Zambian civil society organisations have expressed disappointment over the Government’s decision to cancel the hosting of RightsCon 2026, which was scheduled to take place in Lusaka from May 5, 2026.
RightsCon is the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age, and its planned hosting in Zambia was expected to mark the first time the global conference would be held in Southern Africa.
In a joint statement, the organisations said the decision represents a missed opportunity to position Zambia as a regional leader in promoting democratic values, openness, and civic engagement.
The CSOs have criticised the Government’s justification for the cancellation, which cited lack of alignment with national values, describing it as vague, inadequate, and inconsistent with earlier engagements between authorities and event organisers.
They argue that the conference had been in preparation for over a year with Government involvement, and the late cancellation undermines Zambia’s credibility as a reliable international host.
The statement further notes that the decision sends a negative signal to global stakeholders, including civil society actors, journalists, policymakers, and human rights defenders who had already committed to attending the event.
The organisations, among them the LCK Freedom Foundation led by Executive Director Linda Kasonde, say the move reflects a broader and worrying trend of shrinking democratic space in the country.
They warn that cancelling an international human rights forum risks damaging Zambia’s global reputation and contradicts its constitutional commitment to freedom of expression and assembly.
The CSOs have since called on Government to reverse the decision, provide clear and transparent reasons for the cancellation, and reaffirm its commitment to democratic governance and human rights.
