Tonse security, media paralysed

The political landscape in Zambia has grown increasingly volatile as the August 2026 general elections approach, with the Tonse Alliance reporting that several members of its campaign team, media personnel, and online bloggers remain unaccounted for. According to reports emerging from campaign trails, these individuals were allegedly targeted and seized in coordinated operations involving state security elements and ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres. The development has sent shockwaves through civil society and opposition ranks, raising serious questions about the safety of political actors, freedom of expression, and the overall integrity of the electoral process. Alliance leaders, led by presidential contender Brian Mundubile, have condemned the incidents as a calculated attempt to decapitate their campaign machinery and silence independent reporting. Prominent figures, including former diplomats and media managers, have reportedly faced dramatic intercepts and detentions while moving across provinces. The clampdown has not spared creative artists, musicians, and comedians who form part of the broader mobilization network, with dozens detained under various pretexts ranging from security infractions to alleged cyber-related offenses. Security forces, however, have largely maintained that their interventions are aimed at preserving public order and enforcing the rule of law amidst tense campaign dynamics. Law enforcement agencies have previously defended actions taken during volatile rallies, citing the need to prevent breaches of the peace. Yet, opposition legal teams argue that the selective application of state power creates an uneven playing field, effectively criminalizing routine political mobilization and intimidating citizens who intend to participate actively as polling agents or observers. Independent observers and human rights advocates have expressed deep anxiety over the shrinking democratic space. The recurrent use of statu