Don’t intimidate political opponents, advises HRC

THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called on political players in the country to always be tolerant of minority political parties in their regions.

HRC head of public relations and education, Mwelwa Muleya, said political players in the country should always respect divergent views of the minority.

Mr Muleya said there were some people who had been intimidated by political players who were dominant in a particular region.

He said this at a stakeholders’ engagement on freedom of assembly in relation to the provisions and implementation of the public order Act at Asenga Lodge in Livingstone.

"It is sad that people are harassed for belonging to another political party in Southern province.

Political parties must learn to co-exist, people must wear political regalia of their choice," he said.

Mr Muleya said the public order Act had been a source concern in the implementation and that stakeholders have complained.

He said if the concerns were not addressed they would be serious challenges as the public order act was an important tool for governance.

He said however that public safety was very important in the country, hence the need for the continued stakeholder engagement on the public order Act.

Mr Muleya said this Act promotes law and order which is paramount to good governance and that the freedom of assembly cannot be enjoyed if there is no order in the country.

He explained that it was lawful to restrict public gatherings as it was part of the standard for human rights on the promotion of public safety.

"You can't promote law and order if you don't apply the public order Act in the country. We shall keep on engaging stakeholders on the public order act.

The stakeholders must follow the public order act so that the police do not take advantage of the situation. Civil disobedience is not in the best interest of anyone. So political parties must follow the law," he said.

Mr Muleya said this act is still a source of concern as the implementation of the act has led to the loss of life.