Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has welcomed the pronouncement by the special assistant to President Edgar Lungu, Mr. Amos Chanda, that the head of state had the necessary political will to support the enactment of the access to information (ATI) bill.
Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya says the commitment to enact the ATI Bill is one of the 90 recommendations accepted by the Zambian government out of the 203 recommendations that were made by the United Nations member states during the periodic review process (UPR) on 13th November 2017 in Geneva.
Mr. Muleya says it is encouraging that there is continued expression of commitment at the highest political level to meet Zambia’s national and international human rights obligation in this area.
He says it is the expectation of the human rights commission that the draft bill will be availed to key stakeholders for a final review before being tabled to parliament in the soonest possible time.
Mr. Muleya has also called for improved efforts towards reforming the public order act (POA) and ensuring that it is applied without any form of discrimination.
He has reaffirms the commissions commitment to continue collaborating with the government towards reforming the public order act in order to realize Zambia’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.
The human rights commission spokesperson has since called for improved respect and promotion of basic civil and political rights so that the country can progress to, and concentrates on, realizing the economic, social, and cultural and other rights for inclusive and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, Mr. Muleya has condemned the attacking of the united party for national development (UPND) supporters by some patriotic front (PF) supporters in Sinda district, eastern province describing it as a violation of the right to freedom of association and a criminal act that should attract penal sanctions.
He has urged the Zambia police service to arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them in the courts of law in order to end impunity in assaulting political opponents.
Meanwhile Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila has condemned the alleged political violence involving patriotic front and opposition united party for national development members in Sinda district, of eastern province.
Mr. Mwila says the two political must never view each other as enemies but partners in development.
He says even though the two parties may not agree with each other, but they need themselves.
Mr. Mwila has since called for thorough investigations into the matter.
He says the party leadership has always cautioned against political violence, insisting that perpetrators, whether from the ruling or any other party must face the wrath of the law.