President Edgar Lungu has expressed concern at the prevalence of hate speech being peddled on social media, which he says violates the rights and freedoms of others with impunity.
And President Lungu has reaffirmed government’s commitment to respecting fundamental human rights and freedoms as enshrined in the International Bill of Rights and in the Zambia’s constitution.
Speaking during the commemoration of the UN International Human Rights Day in Lusaka today, Mr. Lungu says as the nation celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the existence of the International Bill of Rights; the nation should not be oblivious to the emerging disturbing culture of hate speech and political violence in the nation.
President Lungu has called for self-restraint in the exercising freedom of speech and expression saying this is in order to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of others.
He says there is need to use the conducive legal and political environment for freedom of expression to advance the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
The Head of State has also reiterated his appeal to the Zambia Police Service to apply the Public Order Act in a transparent and fair manner, saying he expects no form of discrimination in the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms.
He has further appealed to all political party leaders, supporters and sympathizers, to strictly adhere to the requirements of the Public Order Act in order to maintain law and order in the country.
Speaking at the same event, Human Rights Commission Director, Florence Chibwesha says though Zambia has recorded positive strides in the promotion of human rights, more needs to be done.
Ms Chibwesha says the commission will continue advocating for the criminalization of torture in the country because of its negativity on human beings.
Speaking earlier, United Nations Governance Advisor Michael Soko reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to continue protecting human rights of all people despite their political standing, race or religion.
And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President George Chisanga says his association is committed to promoting human rights in the country as highlighted in its Strategic Plan launched in 2013.
This year’s International UN Human Rights Day is being commemorated under the theme “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”.
Shortly after the 2015 Presidential by election results were announced, Davis Chama posted this message on his Facebook page: “Tabakwapula ba kalubale na ba Lozi na ba Tonga. They thought that by uniting they would give us a Tonga President. Ni imbwa za bantu.”
Jameson is himself the promoter of hate speech. When he wants to fall on others like a ton of bricks, when he insults civil servants, when he denies others right of assembly, when he promotes tribalism, when he clamps down on the Post newspapers, when he tolerates Mumbi Phiri & Boko Haram Chama he is promoting hate among citizens.
Human rights in Zambia! My foot! If you want to know exactly what the outside world knows about human rights situation in Zambia just google
******************* , you will be shocked how bad the human rights situation is in Zambia under PF.
Just a few months ago PF police blocked HH and his team from speaking to people in CB, and the world via their embassies took note of that. Just last week, GBM was blocked by PF police just a few days ago on his way to Mpika. Kabimba was attacked in Chipata by PF cadres. All these atrocities being committed by the PF are know by the outside world. Chama shot and injured a bread winner for family with impunity.Chama insulted the Tongas without apologising. Today the f00l is denying and thinks that Tongas can…
Talk about human rights when you cant even allow HH to visit his sick relatives at UTH. You are a joker ECL and no wonder online insults since people cant be allowed to express themselves out their. You are a hypocrite and deceivers to the gullible
When I saw his t-shirt I thought he is supporting TP Mazembe.
@Lucy why continue with hate speech?
@Nostradamus
kekekekeke! ati TP Mazembe t-shirt
What do you take us for Mr Lungu?
LUCY LUCY LUCY LUCY LUCY
Edgar, as long as you don’t allow the opposition members to mingle freely with their sympathizers you will continue to receive these insults.
Ba Lucy muleikalafye naimwe kanena kenu
@lamfras Grow up,no need for insults…the country is in shambles at the moment because of poor planning…Lungu does not care.If you cant see…wake up Zambians
God is not happy with insults. Please find good words when you are expressing your anger.
Comment:haters
Sweet nothings. If I was woman I would not be convinced. Our politicians say one thing but do the opposite. What fairness is he talking about? He can go about freely enjoying his freedom while preventing Nawakwi, Chipimo, HH, Nevers and others from doing the same.
Walk the talk now….
Lets stop insults! Remember we are a Christian nation and God Loves us all!
We are all Zambians and each one of us has the right to choose his or her prefferred presidential candidate already LUCY is insilting the president . The bible is very clear you shall know them by their fruits. Imagine if UPND cadres were not insulting and were oozing with love and not insulting the President i would have definately joined them but with characters like LUCY ine ne Lungu chabe,
You are just a liar who will never vote for anybody who is not Bemba or a tribal sidekick like Lungu. We are not fooled.
He should blame Sata & the Post for introducing insults in Zambia. Lungu an his team should have been doing what the Tanzanian president were doing on Independence Day.
UPND supporters are the worst culprits at insults on social media.They think they can win elections on line.They comment nonsense on any topic and this indeed should come to an end.
Why??? This is outside government issues to worry about
Kambwali, that is a lie. How do I know? Because Davies Chama cannot write in nyanja. How desperate can UPMD cadres be to sink so low with their lies?
Comment:I cant agree with him
He should stop saying “kutumpa” first…
It is a good thing to promote and allow people to enjoy God given freedoms. This should be the case whether in politics or outside themail. In Zambia our freedoms are left to the President’s discretion because all powers have been surrendered to one person; the President. That makes a great risk since a human being is fallible. If you believe in Christ please read.
Philippians 1 verse 27. If you like insulting and you identify your self as a Christian then know that you are sinning and your wages is death.
Mathew 7 verse 12 is about doing to others as we would like them do to us. This is easier said than done. While opposition party senior officials do criticise the party in government they do not go to the extent that the PF secretary general Chama and Mumbi Phiri go. That defiles the President. He has the political power that none of the opposition parties have and therefore is in a position to create the atmosphere fore human rights. Putting all powers in a human being has its problems. Actually we are putting ourselves under the bondage of those who are under a monarchy yet we have a democracy in theory. It is up to us. Sad to see our MPS supporting bills that take away the functionality of Parliament and judicature placing them in one wing and person – the presidency. I am not about…
I am not talking about President Lungu as a person because he is in State House today but will be out one day. If we stop mocking people in opposition for losing elections we create hate in them. That hate translates to violence and self isolation. As long as we mock and insult the loses we will create more hate and since ZNBC and the so called public print media (Times of Zambia etc) refuse to cover the opposition they and sympathizers will resort to social media. Democracies have avoided this by fair coverage of everyone of all political players.
I meant “if we do not stop mocking people who lose election we create hate and isolation. …”.
I shall never forget the dog symbol used as representative of UPND during President Lungu’s inauguration. That gentlemen and ladies went too far. If what a blogger posted above is true that dog was meant to represent Tongas, Luvale and Lozis. Yet Mr Chama remains unrepentant. How do you expect people from those tribes Mr Chama referred to to be happy and walk with their heads up. A simple apology from Mr Chama and a rebuke of those who brought a dog into the Stadium would have gone a long way to bring us together.