By Brian Matambo – Lusaka, Zambia

An urgent appeal has been submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, calling for immediate international intervention in the alleged torture and inhumane treatment of former Zambian Member of Parliament, Munir Zulu. The letter, authored by concerned citizen Paul Chilufya Mweshi, paints a chilling picture of daily abuse being inflicted on Mr. Zulu while in state custody.

In the appeal dated this week, Mweshi accuses the Zambian prison authorities of subjecting Mr. Zulu to “extreme mistreatment and torture,” including “physical abuse so severe that it involves assaults on his private parts.” The letter describes the abuse as not just a violation of basic human dignity, but as “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment” that must be condemned by the international community.

Mr. Zulu, once a vibrant lawmaker, now finds himself in a situation that echoes the dark chapters of authoritarian regimes where political opponents are silenced through systemic brutality. According to the appeal, these violations are occurring with alarming regularity, with no visible response from local oversight bodies or state officials.

“This treatment is not only a blatant violation of fundamental human rights, but it also constitutes cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment that cannot be ignored by the international community,” the appeal states.

The United Nations Human Rights Commission, headquartered in New York, has been urged to launch an immediate investigation into the matter and to apply pressure on the Zambian government to ensure Mr. Zulu’s safety. Mweshi emphasizes that the international community must act swiftly to stop the abuse and to hold accountable those responsible for these violations.

“We rely on the global community, and particularly on your esteemed body, to stand as a beacon of justice for those whose voices are being brutally silenced,” the letter reads.

This urgent petition raises broader questions about the state of human rights in Zambia, particularly under a government that critics accuse of increasingly intolerant behaviour toward opposition figures and dissenting voices. If these allegations are verified, the implications could be damning, not only for those directly involved but also for Zambia’s reputation on the world stage.

The case of Munir Zulu, if left unaddressed, risks becoming another stain on the global conscience, a reminder that silence and inaction often embolden cruelty.

At the time of publishing, the Zambian government had not issued any statement in response to the allegations.

Newsletter