In a statement unveiled to the media today, Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga said the Commission’s investigations revealed various different versions from different interviewed witnesses on how Flight Sergeant Mark Nchimunya Choongwa met his death.
Mr. Mwandenga said the Commission recommends that the Officer-In-Charge at Woodlands Police Station should give notice of Mark’s death to a Coroner to hold an inquest pursuant to the provisions of the Inquests Act Chapter 36 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said the holding of an inquest may help to resolve the critical issue of who should be charged with the murder of the late Flight Sergeant Mark Nchimunya Choongwa as provided by Section 28 (1) of the Inquests Act.
Mr. Mwandenga also noted that the Commission further commended that Administrative Action be taken against the police officers for using excessive force and unlawfully detaining of the late Flight Sergeant Mark Nchimunya Choongwa.
He was hasty to mention that the evidence adduced by all the witnesses clearly showed that the decision to detain the deceased was arbitrary, affirming that investigations revealed that Zambia Police used excessive force when detaining late Flight Sergeant Choongwa.
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chairperson has since stressed need for the police command to take action against officers using excessive force and pre-trial detention.
Mr. Mwandenga said Pre-trial detention ought to be used only in deserving cases where a person is a flight risk, explicating that the circumstances of the late ZAF officer’s case there was no evidence to show or suggest that the deceased was a flight risk.
“ We have finalized its own independent investigations on the death of the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Officer, Flight Sergeant Mark Choongwa, who died at Lusaka’s Woodlands Police Station on 18th March 2017 have made recommendations” Mwandenga said
I am praying for HH.
I cant see any findings or conclusion from the statement above. As for those praying for somebody, pray for his salvation as well. he needed repentance a long time ago but its not too late with God. keep praying
All those Police officers on duty should be arrested, the arresting officers and the ones at the desk! They are accomplices by intent to Gross Bodily Harm leading to death and those that are not are infact guilty of criminal negligence simple and straight forward that is what the HRC should’ve clearly stated.
Other recommendations should’ve been to hand over all military personnel that commit misdemeanours to the respective military branch’s military police- defensive personnel should never be in civilian custody.
I think this is not clear or maybe its the manner of writing by LT. What was the cause of the arrest? Was the late Sergeant resisting arrest? What warranted such viscous and fatal beating? Where was the station officer in charge? If the officers as your report seems to suggest did in fact beat to death, why do you suggest that only administrative action be taken? Can you tell us how the event unfolded? I am afraid that your independent report brings in even more questions that answers. The family of the flight sergeant deserves a thorough and professional investigation. Justice MUST prevail in this matter. Tomorrow it might you or me. Rest in pease our Flight Sergeant you and your family did not deserve this.
I wonder if they were told not to blame the police. Their statement says nothing.
Zambia Police training must undergo reform as nothing is professional about how law enforcement is being applied for things to change to better! The ZP officers with good higher credentials as college degrees and diploma’s are not hands on personnel and mostly occupy higher administrative ranks thus setting them apart from the robotic operatives the public are in constant contact with. Many police officers want to be authoritative with a fear instilling image on the public such that they end up doing wrong things on the fearful public! On many instances for example at a check point they will want to grab your car keys/drivers license, instead of giving a traffic citation they jump into your vehicle ordering you to drive to the police station and, conduct searches without search warrants!…
contd…. Police stations are no longer places of refuge or recourse but where the public meets disdain and torture!
Human PF Rights Commission wasting people’s time
Mother fcker Mwandenga is a PF Cadre crying to keep his job – Lungu desperately is using him to cover up this death caused by PF Police cadres.
How can a normal person with functioning head faculties ONLY recommend Administrative Action against police officers that brutally murdered the service man? The case hasn’t even been heard by any court and the id.iot Mwandenga has already passed judgement – how worse can things get? Huh!
We can all see how Lungu is working hard to cover up the death of Mark Choongwa – but I have no doubts that whoever that murdered Mark and their children and family will pay a very heavy price and Lungu will go MAD over this!!
Now no one will pay notice to these recommendations because these utterly selfish foools in both camps have brought their silly fight from Mongu to Lusaka.
The death of this officer still makes sad reading. However much the HRC may sugarcoat these findings, the facts are reeking of this: The police are to blame on this. This culture of vesting too much power in the phrase ” Boma ni Boma” should be condemned. Some cops feel they are super human and even when one is innocent any slight challenge to them is fertile ground for them to flex their muscle.
Generally cops would like to prove to you that you are nothing. I have witnessed grown and burly men beg for mercy from these cops.It seems to be some form of entertainment to them to beat people up into submission. It is even worse if it another defense force personnel.I believe their esteem feels threatened so they pass on that frustration through beatings.
Most arrests or detentions by…