Give Kambwili police bond, demands Human Rights Commission
THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has urged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to grant National Democratic Congress (NDC) Consultant Chishimba Kambwili bond as a matter of human rights.
According to HRC Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga the offences which Mr Kambwili had been charged with, were bondable.
In a statement released to the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr Mwandenda said Mr Kambwili should therefore be treated in accordance with the rule of law and in a humane manner considering his health status.
“It is desirable in a democratic state such as Zambia that the rights and freedoms of individuals and suspects alike are always promoted and protected in accordance with the rule of law.
“All suspects should enjoy the right to equal protection of the law and must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law. Over-detention of suspects is universally considered as a violation of human rights and a form of extra-judicial punishment of suspects and must be avoided,” Mr Mwandenda said. He added that Mr Kambwili was not a flight risk, as he had always availed himself whenever he was required for investigations.
“In any event, if a suspect breaches any of the bond conditions, it is within the powers of the Law Enforcement Officers to revoke it accordingly,” he said.
Mr Mwandenda said the commission was also concerned with the challenges a number of suspects were facing in accessing bond, particularly the underprivileged.
He said the commission had since been working on a bail and bond project aimed at promoting and protecting the right to liberty of suspects and a number of suspects had been assisted regardless of their social status.
“Infringement or perceived infringement of the rights and freedoms of high profile politicians who are always in the public spotlight whenever they find themselves in contact with the law is a daily experience for hundreds of suspects who are in many respects vulnerable,” he said.
Mr Mwandenda further called for improved administration of the right to bail and bond, to safe guard the rights and freedoms of all suspects regardless of their status in society.