HRC welcomes acquittal of Laura Miti and five others

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has welcomed the acquittal, by the Lusaka Magistrate Court, of six human rights defenders who were charged with a case of holding an illegal assembly.

The HRC thinks that the acquittal of Laura Miti, Sean Tembo, Fumba Chama, Bonwell Mwewa, Lewis Mwape and Mika Mwambazi  has buttressed previous court judgments.

Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya says  commission acknowledges the positive efforts by the Judiciary in consistently providing guidance on the need to respect and protect the right to freedom of assembly.

Mr. Muleya says this is as enshrined by Article 21of the Constitution of Zambia and other regional and international human rights instruments to which Zambia is a party.

He has told Q-News in a statement that the HRC however regrets that the guidance and counsel being given by the Judiciary on the right to freedom of assembly has continued being disregarded.

Mr.  Muleya says it is thus the desire of the Commission that  the revised Public Order act will be tabled in Parliament for enactment during the first quarter of 2019.