The Human Rights Commission has urged individuals and institutions to take advantage of the on-going consultative meetings on the amendment of the Public Order Act.
Human Rights Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya said people should also make submissions aimed at improving the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of assembly.
Mr. Muleya noted that the amendment of the POA is one of the output indicators in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) aimed at promoting an inclusive and democratic system of governance.
He explained that the amendment is also one of the 183 recommendations which government accepted to implement during Zambia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights record at the United Nations in Geneva in 2017.
Mr. Muleya stated that the right to freedom of assembly is a fundamental right and freedom enshrined in Zambia’s Bill of Rights and in the International Bill of Human Rights.
He said the Public Order Act should be designed and implemented in a manner that promotes and protects the right to freedom of assembly, association and expression.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in conjunction with the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) is currently undertaking consultative meetings in Provincial Centres to facilitate public submissions on the proposed amendment of the POA.
This was contained in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.
Simple example. Kambwili is blocked from visiting his constituency.
People know that whatever contribution they make, once the final report goes to Kaizer Zulu it’s going straight in the dust bin.
POA IS GOOD. WE HAVE COME THIS PROGRESSIVELY GOOD BECAUSE OF IT. BUT AS YOU FIDGET WITH IT ALLOW THE POLICE TO HAVE A FINAL SAY. WE DON’T WANT OUR LAND TO BE HELD AT RANSOM LIKE THE DOUBLE H PETITION DELAYS CONSTITUTIONAL OMISSIONS WITH ALOT AMBIGUOUSNESS. PEROSONALLY, I FEEL IT IS OKAY
Preserve and conserve the good law. Infact make it stricter than the one in the KK era, the shushushu era. Viva POA.
@Thorn in the flesh:
Precisely my thought! HRC should stop wasting money and people’s time. As long as you continue having greedy, selfish, insecure and visionless leaders, your efforts are simply an exercise in futility.
There is no need for submissions, just tell the Zambia Police FORCE to stop giving themselves powers they don’t have in the constitution. If I were the President, I would exhibit Leadership by questioning Police why there are stopping opposition from having meetings. Are opposition not stakeholders as well in a democracy?
This is parliament work.
You are asking people to contribute to something that you have not even giving them the framework to follow.
With fair enforcement public order act is not bad law.
The message is late, the committee has already concluded its sittings. Instead of wasting resources collecting submissions just repeal the whole Act, it’s not necessary. It’s very embarrassing that we can have such a Law in a democracy. If you want to know what I mean start reading the Act from the end, you’ll notice that the list of the12 churches exempted doesn’t include Adventists and Watch Tower
Zambians are docile …they would rather be drinking than make submissions then they will complain later!!!
This country baffles all sane minds. The Public order act is okay, it is the Police in collusion with us the PF that are abusing it. Is it normal that all opposition meetings are denied by the Police who have no authority to sanction who can hold a meeting and who cannot. If there is a security scare, the Police must handle it and not deny opposition their entitlement of Freedom of Assembly. Submissions for what. I heard Minister of Justice the other day, completely disconnected on this issue. For the avoidance of doubt, I am very PF. We cant continue short changing our colleagues in the opposition. Our fear to loose power and using draconian and uncivilized methods to stop the opposition from relaying their messages and canvassing mobilization is APPALLING! What submissions????
I agree what is required is not submissions. What is required is just somebody to tell our Police force to stop it. Opposition were allowed in the past regimes to assemble, infact Sata could do it immediately after loosing elections with the same POA. The Zambia Police Force can do better
No matter what submissions are received, the government will only amend what it wants to amend. They are not compelled to follow whatever was submitted.