The Human Rights Commission has condemned the beating of its member of staff and a member of the public who was wearing a Patriotic Front T-Shirt by UPND supporters during the nomination of their candidate for the Katuba Parliamentary by-election.
Mwelwa Muleya the Commission spokesperson says the beating of their Materials Productions Officer Oscar Chisenga and an individual wearing a PF T-shirt yesterday is barbaric.
Mr. Muleya has called on the UPND leaders to identify and hand over to Police the perpetrators to demonstrate that their call for non-violence was not mere rhetoric.
He said condemning violence without bringing perpetrators to account for their action is meaningless and implies supporting the crime.
Mr. Muleya said the Commission is saddened that the party cadres harassed and beat up Mr. Chisenga before snatching a wallet containing his personal effects and a Commission Mobile Tablet, which he was using to video record them as they attacked an individual who was wearing PF regalia.
He said Mr. Chisenga was only doing his constitutional duty of monitoring the promotion and protection of human rights and nothing justifies his harassment and beating.
Mr. Muleya said equally, the beating up of an individual wearing PF regalia was an act of high level of intolerance and lack of civility and undemocratic conduct that must be roundly condemned.
He said wearing anything bearing a political message is one’s democratic right, particularly freedom of expression and choice.
Mr. Muleya said political parties must therefore educate their members that the expression of divergent views, co-existance and tolerance underpin a multi-party democratic state and a pluralistic society such as Zambia, and must be respected.
He said Human Rights Defenders such as human rights workers, activists and Journalists deserve protection and space to carry out their work in an environment free of intimidation, harassment or any form of harm.
Mr. Muleya said Political party leaders have a primary obligation to ensure that their members and supporters maintain law and order, public safety and respect human rights during their public meetings.
“The Commission, therefore, calls upon the UPND leadership to help identify the perpetrators of violence in Katuba yesterday. The Commission reiterates its call for non-violent and free election campaigns in Katuba Constituency and urge the political party leadership of the participating parties provide leadership in promoting and protecting human rights and maintaining lawn, order and public safety”, he said.
And the Patriotic Front in Central Province has also condemned what it has termed as unprovoked attack of a Patriotic Front motorcyclist by UPND cadres and the Human Rights Commission Staffer.
Provincial Youth Chairperson Alice Boka is disappointed by the convenient silence over the matter by the UPND leadership and the Governance Elections Advocacy and Research Services over the matter.
Ms. Boka said the silence of the Churches Monitoring Group and GEARS among others over the incident has also been deafening and has challenged them to play their role.
What do you expect from people who swim and eat blood? They love the Amagedon song and that’s what they are doing. They are agents of evil. I’m sure you know them. They wear red cloths…….
Disgusting behavior . Totally unacceptable. I hope the UPND leadership will have the spine to condemn and cyrb this behavior.
I expect Human rights Commission and other PF cadres to equally condemn the PF cadres who beat minister Lubinda.
Gary Nkondo, you need face this positively. Don’t be pompous, respond coolly and dismantled that violent team of thugs in Katuba. Be smart man.
I am contemplating to join UPND, since my party was closed and I am not ready to take over Heritage Party.
When PF chaps suffer at the hands of this barbaric grouping UPNDEAD, the HRC is mute.
When PF reacts, the HRC condemn.
Tell me what were HRC officers doing in PF regalia?
That aside, that’s how Charity Kabongomana of FDD was hacked in Namwala at the hand of these hooligans
Thats what CKinsultor as information Minister in 2016 called savage beating of a teacher(Pamela Chanda) by UPND cadres in Sinazongwe Southern province …” has again brought to the fore the intolerant nature of the opposition party and their violent agenda.”
A boy was killed by PF cadres for wearing a T shirt bearing HH and no PF has been arrested to date.
In Sesheke people were beaten by PF and when the police acted they were fired.
Let Chakolwa Lungu first demistrate that political violence has no place in Zambia by arresting all prominent PF cadres who have killed or maimed UPND supporters before condemning UPND.
UPND has just learnt to defend them selves now and the whole Stup1d inept PFHRC goes to the hill to shout murder. When PF commits atrocities the HRC hides under the tables. Hypocrisy!
Any way these might GBM supporters in UPND rigalia staging a mock beat up so that UPND can be blamed.
Lies has short legs the truth will soon come our.
HH is good at calling for human rights to be respected, if his calls are genuine he must bring these people forward. Why is it that where by election are been help Upnd cause violence and in return they blame PF?
@Muzo:
Fck you maggot! It should be both ways – this was a case of self defence!
The Opposition was attached by PF Cadres that are never arrested so why should the opposition cadres be on the receiving end without protection from faeces of Zambia Police, so the opposition was entitled to defend themselves?
Ba Chilyata, l don’t reason with insults, l use my brains.
THE PROBLEM IS ALL PEOPLE SEE IS POLITICAL PARTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MUST CALL FOR REGISTER OF SOCIETIES AND CONSTITUTION AL COURT TO PUT IN WRITING IN WHAT QUALIFIES A POLITICAL PARTY TO SUSPEND OR EVEN DEREGISTER ANY PARTY THAT ENGANGES IN VIOLENCE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN BE FREE. MAKE IT A LAW AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY SHOULD ALL CONCENT TO BEFORE U EVEN REGISTER THEM
Simple question for u: how was Levy Mwanawasa able to control this nonsense? His chief of police then Ephraim Mateyo is still alive. Not even the second dealers in ideas called media houses see it fit to talk to him. Late LPM was the only president fit to be commander-in-chief. Even his generals acknowledge it because He was not afraid of locking them up if they fell out of line.
And I’m far from a class, but I’m still doin’ math
You been gone a while son
LOL! You are a Ghost and a Dog! The combination is madness. You look mad and you are surely mad too!
How much has the HRC been paid for this non-sense? Suddenly UPND cadres have become violent? Well played here and It is even sad that you sacrificed your own member of staff in your dirty game here. Let me remind you my fellow Zambians, Rewind your thought to every elections and campaign that have occurred in the past. In Roan Bowman Lusambo even killed a UPND official and remember the scenes in the western province where a police officer even lost his job. Now here is a new strategy of sponsoring more thugs and this time kitted as UPND cadres, Bribe the human rights commissioner who remains silent over the life lost in Luanshya Roan plus another UPND female cadre shot dead by police a few events back. Do not be fooled, PF is the dirtiest party in Zambia’s history, we have lost the…
Has Godfrey Mw@nya Bw@mba aka wife beater G.B.M handed over all U.P.N.D campaign materials??
That shrinking rain soaked Pwele is so disgruntled, & capable of getting up to all sorts.
Just checking!
He can’t even comment on this sensitive issue because blood is his food,freemason, agents of the devil, secret agents. We even know his level,he as finished all the levels 7, if not in level 5 or 6. we know you,be smart man.
Gary Nkombo be smart man don’t pretend come out open comment on this issue.
Why don’t u arrest all the Freemasons and charge them with the PF offence of being Freemasons and try them?
Were is the Church,non govt orgasinisation on this matter shame on you,be proactive.
Civility in Zambian politics will only return once the chief architect of violence follows his ill gotten wealth in tax haven countries. As it is, it just thuggery that must be dealt with.
The human rights commission do you exist?you ignored the retirements in national and public interest of innocent officers? Why
UPND stooges are still bitter and hatred is escalating day in – day out of their hearts.
The fact is still STANDING,ECL MAY NOT BE THE BEST BUT HE IS A CHOSEN ONE.
So UPND if you are to try in 2021 general elections make sure you change for better.
Have you seen how you have TEACH other Zambians tribes of TRIBALISM..?Today you are crying foul of tribal segregation a seed you planted since KK’s era.
The same violence you are perpetuating will cost you heavily on political landscape.
I dont condon violence at all. I abhore it, but what evidence have you got to say the perpetrators of this babaric act where UPND cadres. It implies that you know them…and therefore it would be easy to arrest them. Challenging UPND leaders who are not law enforcement agency to apprehend the perpetrators is folly if not stupid.
DONT JUST JUMP ON CONDENMING THE BEHAVIOUR BY UPND READ REVIEW AND COMMENT , UPND WERE TAKING THEIR CANDIDATE FOR NOMINATION AND EACH PARTY IS GIVEN ITS OWN TIME , WHY SHOULD A PF MBUMBUZI COME NEAR UPND SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR CANDIDATE, WHEN PF WERE BEATING WO LUBINDA DID UPND GO THEIR NO IT WAS OWN BEDROOM STORIES, VINTHU VINA NIVOZIFUNILA, DONT PROVOKE US PLEASE COME ERECTION DAY WE BEAT U ON BALLOT, ATI HUMAN RIGHTS MAN I WAS THEIR THE KAMAN WAS BUSY FILMING PF CADRE INSTEAD OF TELLING HIM TO BE 200M AWAY AS PER ECZ RULES
If you love your self stop going for campaigns . Because most of those who attend campaigns in Zambia are ignorant people
Why was a Member of HRC wearing PF Regalia? Why was he not wearing Clothes with HRC Colors? Why didn’t this fake HRC Member wear ZEC or UPND Regalia? Does HRC exist or its just an extension of PF? This Man is an Impostor pretending to be a Member of HRC while he is a PF Member. Where are witnesses on this alleged assault? What are the Reasons for the assault? This is the usual Propaganda from violent PF Cadres. PF Cadres are looking for excuses to attack UPND Supporters.We knot that a hungry Hyena will always acuse its cubs of smelling like a Goat b4 attacking and devouring it. Just wait and see!
It is very wrong to beat up people but my Question is why did the Human wrights official put on PF tshirts ? and to make matters worse they went with cameras. it was like pf wanting news to put on social media, Are they not supposed to be neutral? Why going in to the camp of UPND with PF Tshirts ?