The Human Rights Commission has condemned the violence that took place in Choma where some UPND supporters stoned some private and public vehicles.The Human Rights Commission has called on all political leaders to take responsibility over violent acts by their supporters.
Below is a Full press statement
28th January, 2016
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
The Human Rights Commission condemns the political violence that took place in Choma where United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres disturbed public peace and order and stoned some private and public vehicles.
The conduct of the cadres was unreasonable and unjustified in a democratic state like Zambia where respect for other people’s rights and freedoms, such as motorists and the general members of the public, should be respected. The Commission is deeply concerned that in a space of five days, disturbing incidences of grave political violence have taken place at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, in Sinda District in Eastern Province and now in Choma in Southern Province. All these incidences hinge on violation of the rights to fundamental freedoms of Association, Assembly and Expression, which are the life blood of a vibrant plural society.
The Commission is therefore calling upon all political parties to take full responsibility over the violent conduct of their members by unreservedly and publicly condemning violence regardless of the perpetrators and victims.
The failure by leaders of political parties to take full responsibility over violent acts committed by their supporters has given an impression to the party cadres and the public at large that the party leadership endorses political violence by their members.
Therefore, the tendency by political party leaders to half-heartedly condemn violence while at the same time exonerating their members from acts of political violence even when it is clear to any right thinking and reasonable member of society that such acts were being committed by their supporters, should stop in order to end the circle of political violence.
The Commission therefore reiterates its earlier call for evident and effective sanctions against individuals involved in political violence as a punitive and deterrent measure against abuse of human rights and freedoms. Political parties have the primary responsibility of ensuring that their members and supporters always maintain law and order. Violence only serves to alienate the vulnerable and marginalised members of society such as women, the aged and persons with disabilities as well as other peace-loving members of society from participating in public affairs, thereby violating the core human rights principles of inclusive participation of citizens in matters that affect their lives.
It is therefore necessary that political party leaders should co-operate with, and support the Zambia Police Service in maintaining law and order, particularly as the campaigns for the 11th August elections gain momentum for the common good of society at large.
The Human Rights Commission is a National Human Rights Institution established under Article 230 of the 1991 Zambian Constitution as amended by Act Number 2 of 2016, to among other human rights functions, ensure that the Bill of Rights is upheld and promoted.
Mweelwa Muleya
Chief Information, Education and Training
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
HH is so thirsty for human blood. The man wants to go to state house at all costs!!!! Its good he won’t make it in his life time.
Dr Larry, does your reasoning also apply to ECL over PF cadres who caused havoc in Ndola?
THE SO-CALLED HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THEIR SKEWED CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE. WHEN IT IS PF BEING VIOLENT, THIS VALUE-LESS COMMISSION IS QUIET. CAN’T YOU SEE THAT THE CHOMA PEOPLE WERE SIMPLY VICTIMS OF THE OVERZEALOUS POLICE INSTRUCTED BY LUNGU TO CREATE A VIOLENT ATMOSPHERE SO THAT UPND CAN BE BLAMED. UPND HAS ALWAYS BEEN PEACEFUL, BUT CANNOT BE PUSHED ANY FURTHER. LUNGU IS FOMENTING ANARCHY IN OUR COUNTRY. LUNGU IS A WOLF IN SHEEP SKIN. HE IS NOT GOOD TO REMAIN PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA. AUGUST 11, LET US REMOVE HIM.
Iam supprised, do we have this organisation in Zambia. Ba Human Rights why are you one sided.
Do you know that opposition parties have been provoked because of you people who are not condenming when PF attacks the opposions.
You have an organization making a statement based on skewed media reports without conducting an investigation! Mweelwa Muleya you should have just kept quiet than try to justify your HRC useless existence! Do your own groundwork and avoid embarrassment!
The condemnation should have been directed to the police who teargassed people who lined up to welcome their leader. Had the police kept their lane non of this would have happened. By the way ba human rights you want to behave like pukuta mwanza who only comments if a report is against UPND.
I have read somewhere in the report of the Human rights commission were they have condemned violence by Pf cadres but am surprised that Upnd minions have only seen their tribal party been mentioned. Looks like we are on different pages. Why do you always want to play victims and throw blames at whoever is trying to advise. That’s how and why you lose elections.
A party who’s popularity is online with members who are non voters Kikiki . Mukose makandi yenu.
Its time we started holding people accountable for their actions. You cannot always blame Lungu and HH for the behavior of cadres. Several times Lungu and HH have denounced violence and they cannot be everywhere to monitor each and every member of their political partiess.
Believe me or not, its you and me to end this political violence and not HH and Edgar. Let us me responsible citizens.
The condemnation should have been directed to the police who teargassed people who lined up to welcome their leader. Had the police kept their lane non of this would have happened. By the way ba human rights you want to behave like pukuta mwanza who only comments if a report is against UPND..
Good, but do you really think the title is suitable? Or may I suggest “HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONDEMNS POLITICAL VIOLENCE.” If I may ask the human rights commission, what are you really there for? Are you blind or deaf that you can neither see nor hear of the serious crimes carried out by political cadres and their leaders especially PF? Are you also afraid of losing your jobs like the police and other civil servants. The human rights I know is above political leaders you are worshiping. You know what PF is doing but you want the country to be on fire. Citizens stand by the road side and the partisan police men tear gas them what did you expect from that. How long are their rights going to be mutilated by the people you fear to act against. You better continue shutting up rather than ..
“Republic of Choma” is a no-go area for those who cannot flash the forward kumbele symbol.
That was the cause of the riots, simply not flashing the symbol.
At least the Ndola case was different, it was cadres incensed at the lies that they have been subjected to by Miles Sampa. Now don’t get me wrong, I did not say that I condone violence by anybody.
It’s not about flashing the symbol but tribalism at play. Its good that they are exhibiting these tribal conducts so that the message can be gotten by other regions. These elections are about revenging how southern votes and see who wins.
Its not the huge number of people lining along the streets to welcome you that can win you votes because the same hands that will raise PF symbol today are the same hands that will raise UPND symbol tomorrow. Why im I saying this, there was no need for UPND to prove its popularity in choma to PF. We all what the press showed us when ECL went south. This is the more reason why the opposition get it wrong, why compare with the sitting president? When even UPND know that 99%of the people who welcomed ECL will not vote for him.
very stupid comment @ shooterz grow up
Look at issues from both angles and stop being rigid like a taliban.
@ Yes Kaanja
Why do you call Shooterz comment stupid? Those facts highlighted in Shooterz comment
why did you have to allow the pf police to threaten people..?the panga family boys were at Ndola airport and not condemned..get lost ..
Let the govt constitute an independent commission to monitor irresponsible tribal /hate utterances and advise the govt accordingly. Tough steps should be taken ranging from ban in political participation to imprisonment. This should not be done selectively. The national intelligence should be on the ground as much of the ill planning is done behind your (govt) back. All necessary steps should be taken to avert possible crisis. This may include postponing the election if it appears extreme. These sporadic instances of violence need extra attention. This new clause will bring flares in the scramble for alliances. All dirty tactics including voter bribery will shoot. The frequent irresponsible remarks on Tonga/Bemba tribes may cause irreconcilable differences. BEWARE.
Now the Human Rights Commission has woken up from its slumber. The people who stoned the police and public property in Choma are UPND cadres. Mr. Mwelwa Muleya, kindly help us to also identify the people who caused grave political violence at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola and Sinda in Eastern Province. You can just mention these two places without identifying the perpetrators. You have clearly stated that Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe is an International Airport and as such the violence and the breach of security that was witnessed must be properly communicated to the international community. Please don’t issue such useless press statements if you have no guts to mentioned the word PF cadres from the ruling government.
the police ar reaping what they have sown.citizens didnt start the fire but police so let them test the bitterness of their stupidity period.
Shooterz is 500% right, 99% of people from southern province will not vote for Lungu.if Lungu gets even 30% pls those who are calling shooterz stupid come and cut off my leg….Coz Lungu won’t get even 5%.
This Commission must be ashamed of themselves. Who pays them to only yap when it is the opposition. Njala commission!