Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Inonge Wina Vice President Picture by Albert Mpezeni
Vice President Inonge Wina has directed Justice Minister Given Lubinda to conclude the process of reforming the public order act which she notes has been on the drawing board for far too long.
Mrs. Wina says there is need to conclude the review of the public order act so that it serves the purpose of promoting and protecting the right to freedoms of assembly, association and expression as well as maintain law and order.
Speaking when she officiated at the 2018 commemoration of the international human rights day in Lusaka, Mrs. Wina noted that it is difficult to achieve inclusive and sustainable development without freedom, justice and peace.
And Mrs. Wina has also directed the justice minister to table the revised human rights commission act before cabinet for adoption prior tabling it in parliament for enactment.
She has reiterated government’s commitment to giving legal effect to the republican constitution by reviewing the human rights commission act aimed at empowering the commission to grant quasi-judicial remedies and binding orders to enhance the protection of human rights.
Mrs., Wina has further encouraged the minister of justice to work with various stakeholders such as the human rights commission and other non state institutions and organizations to ensure that appropriate public awareness activities are conducted in an effort to uphold human rights.
Speaking earlier, Human Rights Commission Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga expressed concern at the continued violation of the right to peaceful assembly through discriminatory application of the public order act.
Mr. Mwandenga noted with displeasure that the country has continued witnessing some individuals or groups of individuals being summoned, arrested, charged and sometimes taken to courts of law for simply expressing themselves in a non-violent manner on matters of public interest such as defending human rights.
And Mr. Mwandenga says the commission remains opposed to the death penalty and commended President Lungu for continuing the best human rights practice of commuting death sentences to life imprisonment.
And united nations country representative Janet Rogan has noted the need to not only consider the terms of the public order act in the review process, but also the way it is implemented by the Zambia police service.
Meanwhile European Union Ambassador to Zambia Alessandro Mariani has commended Zambia for its efforts in the protection of prisoners’ rights.