Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Human Rights Commission has condemned in the strongly terms the gruesome murder of an elderly woman by an angry mob in Lusaka’s Chibolya compound on Saturday 14th February 2015.
Commission Director Florence Chibwesha in a statement says it is regrettable that human life which is so sacred can be taken away in such a brutal manner which is unacceptable and can never be condoned no matter how serious the crime one commits.
Ms Chibwesha has called on the Zambia Police to quickly investigate the mob justice attack and apprehend the people behind it so that they can face the law.
She says it is important that people remember that the constitution of Zambia guarantees to everyone the right to life as the presumption of innocence in the event of being suspected of having committed an offence.
Ms Chibwesha says the public is therefore, advised not to take the law in their hands through mob justice as it is against the law, but should instead allow the Police to do their duty whenever someone is suspected of wrong doing.
And Ms Chibwesha says the Human Rights Commission is dismayed at the failure of the Police to take quick action against Patriotic Front cadres who have continued on the path of violence by harassing and victimizing marketeers despite President Lungu’s directive to the Police to bring the situation to under control.
She says the reported attack of a female marketeer and her two sons at Soweto Market by suspected PF cadres raises great concern about the lack of action to contain political violence.
Ms Chibwesha says the Commission appeals to the Zambia Police to enforce the law against the perpetrators of violence without fear or favour.