Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Human Right Commission has recommended that appropriate criminal charges be brought against all the Police officers including senior officers who were in charge of the operation to quell the students’ unrest at the University of Zambia great east road campus between 4th and 5th October, 2018 resulting in the death of a student.
In a summary statement of its investigations findings on the UNZA students’ unrest, the commission says the late Vespers Shimunzhila died as a result of suffocation due to carbon monoxide intoxication as confirmed by the medical evidence through a post-mortem.
The commission says from all the evidence submitted by a wide range of witnesses during its investigations, it can be concluded that the invasion of the UNZA Great East road campus premises and subsequent throwing of suspected hand grenades and firing of teargas canisters in students rooms by the Police, caused the death of Vespers, the injury of other students as well as the loss of, and damage to University and students’ property.
It says it is clear from the totality of the evidence obtained that the police acted in an extremely brutal manner depicting a combative warfare situation against unarmed students who at that time no longer posed any real danger or violence to the police officers or any other member of the public or property.
The Commission further states that the State being the primary duty bearer of human rights with trio obligation of respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of all people in Zambia should be held vicariously liable for the action of the police officer who are its agents.
It has also called on Vespers Shimunzhila’s estate to consider instituting legal proceedings against the State and the Police officers involved for the arbitrary loss of her constitutionally guaranteed and brith right to life in order to secure adequate compensation.
The Commission says the Zambia Police Command should own up and take responsibility over the death of Vespers and injuries to sustained by Everntyn Choongo,Trudie Kalimbwe and others as well as for the loss of property.
It has further recommended that government continues paying all medical and other expenses towards the treatment of Everntyn who sustained a fractured lower spine resulting her paralysis until her full recovery and rehabilitation, and compensate her for the serious injuries she suffered.