Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Human Rights Commission has welcomed the guidance provided by President Edgar Lungu regarding the planned meeting of Tonga speaking people scheduled to take place in Monze over the weekend.
Commission Director Florence Chibwesha says the commission believes that effective administration of the Public Order Act needs political leadership at the highest level as has been demonstrated by President Lungu in this instance.
Ms Chibwesha says it the hope of the commission that this leadership will continue to be displayed and echoed at all levels of Government and the ruling party to ensure that constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression, assembly and association are respected, as Zambia is a democracy in which free and open discussions and participation among citizens must be allowed.
She adds that it is fundamentally important that protection of freedom of expression, assembly and association is ensured even after one has exercised these rights.
Ms Chibwesha states that the Human rights Commission in collaboration with the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has since gone ahead to submit guidelines on freedom of peaceful assembly and application of the Public Order Act in Zambia to the Minister of Justice, Ngosa Symbyakula, today the 16th of July, 2015, to further assist Government to enforce the Public Order Act in the manner that is consistent with upholding freedom of expression, assembly and association; democracy and the rule of law.