HRC SLAMS POLICE BRUTALITY
Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Dr Pamela Sambo said the police under the watch of Mr Musamba should immediately stop human rights violations against citizens and should ensure there was professionalism in their conduct.
Mr Musamba is one of the seven high-ranking government officials, including President Hakainde Hichilema, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, Chief Justice Mumba Malila, Jack Mwiimbu, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security as well as Ms Mwangala Zaloumis, the Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson whom the Our Civic Duty Association has petitioned the United States of America for sanctions.
In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Sambo said the commission was strongly condemning the Zambia Police Service for its continued violations of fundamental human rights against citizens.
Rizwani Patel, a Patriotic Front official in Petauke and two others have remained incarcerated after they were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery almost two months ago in a matter the complainants claim was an assault.
“The continued reports of violations of human rights by the police, which include violations of the right to life through extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions and torture of suspects are extremely worrying and must immediately be stopped,” Dr Sambo said.
Dr Sambo said the police must always uphold their constitutional obligation of upholding the Bill of Rights as they enforced the law.
“The increasing cases of police officers using live ammunition against defenceless, unarmed and non-violent suspects as well as alleged acts of torturing suspects during arrests and interrogations show a very worrying pattern of human rights violations,” she said.
Dr Sambo said investigations of extra-judicial killings, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment of suspects were in line with the commission’s constitutional mandate and were aimed at preserving life as well as securing remedial measures for suspects and family members of affected persons.
She has since appealed to individuals or institutions that may have information or evidence of human rights violations to contact the HRC.
And Dr Sambo has urged Mr Musamba to demonstrate commitment and leadership in condemning and ending police arbitrariness, brutality and other forms of flagrant violation of human rights being perpetrated under his command.
She said the HRC was ready to help the Zambia Police Service to train and re-train its officers in human rights-based policing techniques.
“It is the expectation of the commission that the Police Command will not only end up at regretting the grave violations of human rights such as depriving suspects of their right to life, but also institute thorough investigations to ensure that all the culprits are brought to book to end any emerging impunity,” Dr Sambo said.