The Human rights Commission has justified the killing of the infamous Mailoni brothers saying certain circumstances necessitated the killing of individuals to protect innocent citizens.
Commenting on the killing of the Mailoni Brothers who had allegedly terrorised the people of Luano Valley, Human Rights Commission head of Information and Education Samuel Kasanka said the commissions’ first responsibility was to the law abiding citizens and the convicted persons second.
Commission Director Florence Kabwesha said although a prima facie had not been established against the slain brothers, law enforcement officers were mandated to use reasonable force to apprehend the suspects if they were fleeing.
“If a suspect is fleeing and they apply reasonable force, it could be that in the process the suspect dies so we need to establish what really happened by looking into the circumstances that led to the killing,” Ms Kabwesha said.
The duo was speaking when they answered questions from journalist during the commemoration of the United Nations Day in support of torture victims.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani said a balance between respect of human rights and protection of the citizenry should be struck.
Ms Libongani said in an interview that in as much as the police was obligated to ensure the preservation of life and protection of property, this must be done in a manner that did not infringe on the human rights of others.
Acting Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Arnold Kapelembi
said the definition of torture must be expanded to capture all forms of torture, inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment or punishment.
Mr Kapelembi said torture had not been criminalised in Zambia and there was need for specific legislation relative to the gravity of torture.
Speaking at the same function United Nations Resident Coordinator Kanni Wignaraja said Zambia’s legal framework should be in conformity with the universal definition of torture to which Zambia was a signatory.
She said this would make State and non -State actors aware of what was not permissible and deemed as unlawful behaviour.
This year maiden celebrations of the international day in support of victims of torture were held under the theme; the right to rehabilitation.
Yes, I believe those guys were not armed and to me they looked like they needed help for reformation or something. Watch the space!
They were dangerous criminals that killed police officers in the past. When you do not know what was going to happen after coming in confrontation with the brothers you shoot. It was a question of either they kill you or you kill them.
If you were sent there to capture them what would you have done?
What a shame,an organisation that should uphold Human rights is
Shamelessly supporting the killings.
A shame indeed. Am surprise and shocked. Zambia is in danger.
Don my thoughts exactly. My lecturer in Human Rights Law told me that even a devil himself should be given the right to be heard. These people at Hrc are tired.
Lelolelo the bible says that YOU SHALL REAP WHAT YOU SOW.So they have reaped exactly what they had sown.If you sow to the flesh you shall reap of the flesh and if you sow to the spirit so shall it be.You rise up by the sword so shally you fall by the sword.The blood of those people they killed was on their heads.its not a matter which is debatable.
LELOLELO YOU SHALL REAP WHAT YOU SOW.THEY REAPED EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAD SOWN AND THE BLOOD OF THOSE PIPO THEY KILLED IN COLD BLOOD WAS ON THEIR HEADS.ITS NO A MATTER WHICH IS DEBATABLE
NEXT TIME THEY WILL SHOOT YOU AND POLICE WILL REPORT AS USUAL… WE HAVE JUST GUN DOWN THE MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINAL. THANKS TO OUR A LET POLICE OFFICERS
Pobo and just like in a flash. Mailoni criminals Killed.
And why did this so called Human Rights Commission stay quiet when 2 unarmed Kampansa residents were killed by ZNS? Why make so much noise about the Mailoni Brothers whose case does not require much debate?
Indeed, the Mother is suffering stomach pains for the fig fruits she did not eat. The chewas in Katete would say “Nkuyu yodya mwana inanyonga amake”.
When a custodian and defender of human rights expresses such sentiments in defense of “some” human rights to justify extra judicial blood letting, then the nation is in deep trouble.
The Mailoni brothers needed to be captured and trialed on the terms of the law and if found guilty, hanged. But as it is the Mailoni brothers have won and the law has lost. The thugs set the terms,
this is sad..how do you endorse such a move..?the HRC should rethink its position..shame..
Right my brother
They have killed, they are killed. the law takes its course. Everyone in Luano valley is happy that they can move freely… What shame???
those who kill by the sword,will die by the sword.scipture has been furfiled….amen
There are no winners in this whole saga. You want to capture these criminals alive so that you can profile them better and help in developing our forensic system for future policing reference. These guys may have been responsible for other unexplained murders but we will never know. The army are not police and are trained to shoot before they are shot at, see before they are seen. If you remember very well, Mushala was also gunned down in similar circumstances in 1982 by the army. As a young person, I was able to see the infamous terrorist’s corpse as it was paraded in solwezi northwestern province for proof Adamson Mushala was no more! I feel saddened for the mother to have scored a hat trick of dangerous criminals and our support should go towards this poor woman. Do not pour scorn.
@SGT Gunduzani, I can understand the sentiment and I feel the same but we are in between a soft place and a hard rock here. The Mailonis had no rules of engagement and they would stop at nothing to keep themselves from capture. We do not exactly know what transpired in the valley. Was there a shoot out? Did these guys put up a fight? I would have preferred they were caught as I already blogged above so that we could get to grips with what was going on in their minds. I am at this time very short of details as I do not live in Zambia and did not even know about the Mailonis. They could have been a kalindula band as the name sounds suitable for such a trade. That said, I do not agree with the death penalty in Zambia and I think fewer presidents have actually effected it.
The Miloni brothers have won, we will never know the truth about them. Who knows, they may have been falsely accused…!!
You people supporting the Mailoni brothers have never lost a relation at the hands of criminals either by gun, spear etc. I lost a brother at the hands of such people and therefore cannot support them. Why are you talking about the human rights of those that the Mailoni brothers killed. Didn’t they have any human rights or did the brothers have the right to take life away? Forget about them please. Those boys were peasants who did not deserve to even be born. They killed learned and educated people like the ZFDS pilot who was a medical doctor. Atase, let them rot in hell.
BREAKING NEWS!!! BREAKING NEWS!!! BREAKING NEWS!!! BREAKING NEWS!!!
ZAMBEEF Wins Tender to Embalm the Mailoni Brothers
Ati ma Lawyers! Ha ha haha!!!!
These guys need to increase their vitamin intake.
This is the comment I was waiting for from Human Rights Commission. But I don’t think it was rightful and easy to capture those creatures alive. Capturing them alive had a lot of risks to the officers who were carrying out operations. They deserve what they received from the law enforcement officers.