RightsCon has exclusively revealed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT the real and hidden reasons behind the Zambia Government abrupt cancellation of the renowned human rights comferece (RightsCon) that Zambia was to host for the very first time.
ZBT can exclusively reveal that the sudden collapse of the RightsCon 2026 summit in Lusaka was not the for reasons that have been advanced to the general public, but something much more deeper.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT regarding the financial fallout, RightsCon Director, Nikki Gladstone confirmed that………
Real reasons behind RightsCon cancellation revealed!
RightsCon has exclusively revealed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT the real and hidden reasons behind the Zambia Government abrupt cancellation of the renowned human rights comferece (RightsCon) that Zambia was to host for the very first time.
ZBT can exclusively reveal that the sudden collapse of the RightsCon 2026 summit in Lusaka was not the for reasons that have been advanced to the general public, but something much more deeper.
According to the organisers allegations, the cancellation is linked to intense geopolitical pressure from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the participation of Taiwanese delegates.
According to the official statement made available to Zambian Business Times – ZBT, RightsCon and host organization Access Now have cited foreign interference as the real reason the global human rights summit will not proceed in Zambia, despite over a year of coordination with local authorities.
“We believe foreign interference is the reason RightsCon 2026 won’t proceed in Zambia or online,” they said.
The statement further revealed that the decision was taken on such short notice that it affected over 2,600 in-person participants from 150 countries who were already set to arrive in the capital for the May event.
Organisers added that on April 27, 2026, just one day after a government press release endorsed the event, the Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTS) made an urgent call alleging that Chinese diplomats were pressuring the Zambian government because of Taiwanese civil society participants.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT regarding the financial fallout, RightsCon Director, Nikki Gladstone confirmed that the operational losses are substantial for all stakeholders involved.
“Regarding the financial impact, it’s too early for us to speak on the exact financial loss incurred, but it’s significant for both RightsCon and partners,” said Gladstone.
Meanwhile, the organizers noted that despite a signed MoU and close coordination with multiple ministries since 2024, the government unilaterally announced a postponement via state-owned media on a public holiday without prior consultation.
However, the Ministry of Technology and Science later claimed in a letter sent over WhatsApp that the move was necessitated by a need for disclosure to ensure full alignment with Zambia’s national values.
Organisers further disclosed that they were informally told the event could only proceed if they agreed to moderate specific topics and exclude the Taiwanese community from participating both in-person and online.
“This was our red line, not because we were unwilling to engage, but because the conditions set before us were unacceptable and counter to what RightsCon stands for,” the organizers stated in their official communication.
Efforts by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT to get a comment from Bloggers of Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Richard Mulonga, who heads the entity that was serving as the anchor organization locally, proved futile after three days of inquiries he referred all queries back to the international hosts.
RightsCon and Access Now have expressed disappointment that international participants would not experience the Zambia they had come to know through their extensive planning process.
By Philip Sinkala
