14/10/2026
*Zambia tops the UN Human Rights Council vote - and sends a message*
Zambia led the field in todayโs UN Human Rights Council elections, taking 177 votes in the General Assembly โ the highest of all 15 countries elected.
With 193 member states voting, securing 177 votes means President Hakainde Hichilema and his team drew support well beyond its African bloc โ from Western, Asian and Latin American capitals alike. That cross-regional backing marks Zambia as a credible, non-polarising voice on rights issues.
It also strengthens Lusakaโs diplomatic hand. A seat on the 47-member council puts Zambia at the table on resolutions and country reviews, with standing to shape debates on debt and economic rights, civic space, and Africaโs representation in global institutions.