Commonwealth team arrives in Zambia over deteriorating human rights

March 5, 2013 | Filed under: Breaking News | Posted by:

A team from the Commonwealth Secretariat has finally arrived in Zambia to have an on the spot check of the deterioting human rights record in Zambia.

The team came to Zambia after  opposition parties  petitioned the international body over Zambia’s falling human rights record since the PF government took over power last year.

The team will meet opposition leaders, civil society organisations and government officials over increased violation of civil and political rights and freedoms, abuse of state institutions such as the media, the police and the judiciary against the opposition.

There has been systematic state sponsored violence and curtailing of people’s freedoms since PF took over power in September 2011.

So far, opposition parties have not been allowed to freely hold meetings and conduct rallies without police approval, which in most cases have been denied.Currently, leaders of the leading opposition parties, Dr. Nevers Mumba of the MMD and Mr. Hakainde Hichilema of UPND are facing a barrage of  trumped up court cases as part of suppressing their political participation.

A number of opposition political leaders are currently facing various charges over allegations of holding illegal assemblies, while PF leaders and officials freely conduct their meetings without seeking police permit.

Last month, police allowed the UPND to hold their meeting in Kabwata, but the ruling party sent its thugs to the venue who beat up people including an American diplomat and some  media personnel.

After being reported to the Commonwealth, president Michael Sata ordered all the banks in the country and government institutions to illegally furnish him private account details of one of the leading opposition leaders, Hakainde Hichilema, which he later distributed to media houses and members of the general public.

Mr. Sata later he would present the same dossier to the Commonwealth so that the UPND leader can tell them where he stole  his wealthy, even when the PF government has not charged Mr. Hichilema with any theft or corruption.

The PF has mounted a smear media campaign against the opposition, usually by blowing up cases of violence involving cadres while covering up atrocities by  PF cadres in order to mislead the international community that the opposition was violent.

 

 

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122 Responses to Commonwealth team arrives in Zambia over deteriorating human rights

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  1. Wina aza kunyuka na bp co.wealth will not remove u from katombora

    ndyomba - March 6, 2013
    18:59

  2. Don’t abuse this media by posting in insults. Lets dwell on real matters useful men. What we are all crying for is Zambia.

    Topone - March 6, 2013
    15:03

  3. it’s true the current president’s imunity shoud be lifted so as to allow space for the commonwealth to investigate.

    field sham - March 6, 2013
    14:06

  4. The world is watching thank God.

    maybin kalale - March 6, 2013
    08:56

  5. LET THE IMMUNITY OF THE CURRENT PRESIDENT BE REMOVED SO THAT HE CAN PERSONALLY ANSWER TO MANY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION LEVELLED AGAINST HIM. WE DONT WANT OUR LOVELY COUNTRY TO BECOME ANOTHER SOMALIA.

    John - March 6, 2013
    08:20

  6. Welcome to Zambia, COMMON WEALTH, do your investigations thoroughly, pump sense in the entire leadership of pf to avoid what the genocide that transpired in Rwanda. There is too much Human Rights Violation in our country within the one year the pf government has been in power. We Zambians have now become refugees in our own land. Please save us!!

    John - March 6, 2013
    08:09

  7. May the Commonwealth Team also seek audience with Garry Nkombo, Oblivous Mwaliteta and one Charity Katanga.

    sitongwani luwawa - March 6, 2013
    07:14

  8. May be this explains the reason why the DPP rushed to execute a “Nolle” on Nevers Mumba and Kunda in Kitwe Magistrate Court. The PF will soon switch into pretentious mode while the Commonwealth investigates abuses f human rights. We bet that Sata, Sakeni, Kabimba, Masebo, Mutembo Nchito will soon mutate into Catholic Bishops-without wearing priestly robes. However, the Commonwealth Investigation team are in Zambia to verify Sata’s misrule based on facts gathered in the recent past. Therefore, the data upon which the opposition parties based their reports are richly stored in the archives of the electronic and print media.

    Mambwe - March 6, 2013
    06:33

  9. Maybe democracy will be restored

    Jane - March 6, 2013
    06:16

  10. It is not just Zambians that are suffering constant breaches of human rights. What about foreigners which are subjected to constant intimidation and Minister of Home Affairs orders of deportation under the pretext “in the interest of State security” and without any evidence. If the same treatment was applied to Zambians overseas, all Zambians will complain about discrimination. And still, no NGO working in Zambia has raised issue. Why? Are the foreigners subject to different interpretation of Art. 11 (a) of the Constitution of Zambia? LAZ has been conspicuous by the silence on the matter.

    lost for words - March 6, 2013
    05:45

  11. Sata’s regards toward other tribes is pathetic.

    Tweende - March 6, 2013
    02:41

  12. Hugo Chavez has just passed on

    I Googled - March 5, 2013
    22:58

  13. They have done well. What’s the point of having opposition when they are not allowed to meet the electorate

    sir k - March 5, 2013
    22:27

  14. Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, no side should claim victory. This should be a clarion call to specifically Sata that he should begin talking to the masses via press conferences and hear what they have to say.

    Centre Back Of Democracy - March 5, 2013
    22:00

  15. IS THAT WHY THE NEVRS MUMBA CASE ENTERED NOLLE PROSEC..? IM SURE, SO THAT THE COMMONWEALTH CAN BE DUPED????TOO LATE THE DAMAGE HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH THAT ZAMBIANS WILL GIVE OUT INFO WILLINGLY…..

    NewZambia - March 5, 2013
    21:54

  16. Welcome to zed commonhealth

    Oldmadala - March 5, 2013
    21:47

  17. Feollew countrymen and women, hope this comment finds you in good health to comprehend. I wish to state from the onset that going by the way or manner in which Sata has governed this country, he has really planted a seed of hatred between ifwe bashilubembankonko and benalubembankonko and other tribes in the country to unprecedented levels. This man Sata is not even one us true Bembas and his style of leadership is in no way representing what we Bembas are able to do. If I tell you the names that are in his cabinet and worse in diplomatic services and how they are bloodily connected to Sata , you none Bembas will be shocked and will hate us more. But these are not true Bembas but just his family window dressing as well as just rewarding his late friends children that he once worked with. But most of you will find it difficult to tell the difference. The rate at which this Sata has ruined the country in a very shot period is extremely amazing due to his oppressive methods to other tribes in the land such that if we don’t speak out, there will be no Bemba who will rule this country due to the uprising other tribes will give us the true bembas not counterfeit Sata . Whether you want it or not even Chiluba never practiced open tribal appointments like this nut Sata and if other tribes talk he thinks using state machinery to silence opponents means all is well, no that’s just the beginning and those who think we cannot solve our own disputes internally are wrong. Commonwealth officials are here due to Sata s arrogance and thought when he became President, that was the end of opposition which is filthy thinking. Imiti ikula empanga and who told him he will rule forever pantu ena mukote namano kwati nayafulungana kwati. Even in banks kwati ku Zanaco I can show you his relatives he has pushed in at the expense of real graduates abalechula but more qualified than these quacks. We can’t sacrifice our tribe for the sake of accommodating one individual who is not even one of us ukokwine oko bakusumisha ifyabupuba. But of course there are a few bembas who think this is time to loot the treasury but bututu ubo but we still have young children who need a successful economy not this failed state Sata is designing .the fact is that this man is a failure and has really damaged the oneness Zambia enjoyed for a long time by promoting the Bemba superiority when most of these Chitulika people are not even Bembas.its very bad chabulandanganshi uyu umuntu takwata uluse nobukote bwakwe.

    Ichibumba Ichikankala - March 5, 2013
    21:42

  18. In any case just the common wealth to visit to investagate human rights abuses sends wrong signals that things are not ok.

    Namusunga - March 5, 2013
    21:07

  19. Lelo lelo!

    Malokota - March 5, 2013
    19:59

  20. Please tell them that it is not only political violence but also many other items in the country. This Govt have deadly propagandas such Tonga Under Oath just to cook up hatred between it citizens, UPND killing a PF cadre saga when they know it better themselves. Why such lies? We ICJ here in Zambia.

    Muntu Na Muntu - March 5, 2013
    19:35

  21. Prevention is better than cure.

    Zambia is a peaceful Nation - March 5, 2013
    19:22

  22. Your second name says it all. You have no understanding of international relations. Best you zip it and read what others are posting. You May learn something.

    Observer - March 5, 2013
    19:07

  23. Common wealth just do your work without intimidation from any quarter.there is too much abuse of human rights.

    Namusunga - March 5, 2013
    19:05

  24. Pf cadres listen very carefully dont attack us here!This is where we are heard go to Mmembe he will listen to you.Wishing the CW can do their job quickly and the govt of Noah or sorry Sata can lick its dust on its berry

    NEBO - March 5, 2013
    18:38

  25. Welcome Commonwealth, don’t to visit Livingstone to talk to Hon Gary Nkombo…

    foloko - March 5, 2013
    18:24

    • your English is so bad idiot!!!

      ngulu - March 5, 2013
      18:32

      • Nto yanyoko! who do you bl.ood think you are?

        CHOOMA - March 5, 2013
        19:04

        • With this kind of language, do you think you are better than the PF cadres who you are insulting?

          One Zambia One Nation - March 6, 2013
          14:49

    • satni wanyoko musilu..uli ciyanga..uli nja ..uli cipuba sana..

      mumbwe - March 5, 2013
      21:15

  26. Sir, what are rules then that are governing us. The international community is coming in because of failure to observe our own rules of conduct including respect for human rights

    Munthu Uyu - March 5, 2013
    18:08

  27. its amazing seeing how the pf cadres are panicking surely zambia is not known for human rights abuse

    blackbull - March 5, 2013
    17:43

  28. Remove Sata’s immunity so that he can be tried for the atrocities he has committed so far!

    Odya Mphafa - March 5, 2013
    17:42

    • Immunity doesnt count at the international level

      jonstoned - March 6, 2013
      04:41

  29. and they have been attacked by PF cadres?

    Odya Mphafa - March 5, 2013
    17:39

  30. Ignorance at play. Zambia is an independent country which is governed by its own rules. It is only us and not the CW that can change this country.

    John Chinena - March 5, 2013
    17:34

    • So why NOT pull out of the CW then? before getting booted out if you dont comply with internationally accepatble levels of human rights parctices.

      Odya Mphafa - March 5, 2013
      17:40

    • Mukongo wa nyoko!

      CHOOMA - March 5, 2013
      19:07

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