27 bodies, suspected to be migrants from Ethiopia, have been “dumped” by the side of the road in the Ngwerere region, north of Zambia’s capital Lusaka.
According to Police Spokesperson Danny Mwale, they most likely died from suffocation while traveling.
A victim who was discovered “gasping for air” has been sent urgently to a nearby hospital, he said.
Most migrants traveling to South Africa come through Zambia, primarily from the Horn of Africa.
Mr Mwale said residents of Ngwerere found the bodies on Sunday at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT).
He said the police believe the migrants are Ethiopian nationals based on the identity documents found on them.
“Our preliminary investigations indicate that a total number of 28 persons, all males aged between 20 and 38, were dumped in Meanwood Nkhosi along Chiminuka road in Ngwerere area by unknown people,” the police said in a statement.
The bodies have been taken to Zambia University Teaching Hospital mortuary.
In neighbouring Malawi, the authorities discovered 25 bodies of Ethiopian migrants in a mass grave in October.
The police there said they had evidence to link the stepson of Malawi’s ex-President Peter Mutharika to the grim discovery.