HH Asks Human Rights Commission To Investigate Police Violence

United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has asked the Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC) to investigate extrajudicial killings and instances of state-sponsored violence by the police, following the killing of two civilians by police officers in Lusaka in December. 

In a letter sent to the HRC on Monday, Mr Hichilema said the killings, which occurred as he was due to appear at police headquarters on December 23, should cause concern to all well-meaning Zambians. The letter was copied to the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Law Association of Zambia, the Civil Society for Constitution Agenda (CiSCA), the Police Inspector General and the Ministry of Home Affairs, among other relevant institutions. 

The opposition leader further states that he will not be attending any future police summons for fear that he will be killed by officers, as was the case for State Prosector Nsama Nsama and UPND supporter Joseph Kuanda last month. 

“Until the relevant authorities can guarantee our supporters’ safety while exercising their rights as enshrined in our Constitution, it is unreasonable for me or indeed anybody else who has been subjected to similar treatment I have received to respond to frivolous police callouts in future. This is necessary in order to avoid the needless loss of innocent life including the obvious attempts to assassinate me in the confusion that arise in such situations,” he affirmed.

HH labelled the recent pattern of extra-judicial killings by the police in Zambia as a “gross violation of human rights”, which threatened to tarnish the country’s reputation. He charged the HRC to step up to their constitutional role in protecting human liberties and freedoms. 

The UPND leader added that his own party would be on standby to help investigate any alleged acts of police brutality.

“We trust you will thoroughly investigate the extra-judicial killings and gross human rights violations that occurred on 23rd December 2020. The UPND and its leadership are available to provide evidence to the HRC to enable it to undertake this task smoothly.”