Opposition didn't exhaust local avenues, says HRC
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 06 Mar. 2013, 13:59 CAT
THE Human Rights Commission has urged the government to dialogue with opposition groups that have raised human rights questions and have sought the Commonwealth's intervention. In a statement yesterday, commission chairperson Pixie Yangailo stated that the call to a national dialogue must be done now.
She stated that it was common practice that any matter pertaining to human rights violations to be addressed and positively tackled by international and regional bodies including the United Nations and the Commonwealth, it must first be addressed by all possible legal and other recourses at national level.
She stated that it was clear the opposition leaders (MMD's Nevers Mumba, UPND's Hakainde Hichilema, ULP's Sakwiba Sikota and others) did not exhaust local avenues before going to submit a dossier to the Commonwealth.
Yangailo stated that from a human rights point of view, there was "absolutely nothing wrong with people, irrespective of their nationalities or political affiliations, addressing press conferences in foreign countries to draw attention to what they may perceive as violations of human rights of nationals by their sitting government."
Yangailo, however, stated that the commission was "uncomfortable" with the call to suspend Zambia from the Commonwealth and impose sanctions on her.
"Experience has shown elsewhere that the targeted politicians do not suffer when sanctions are imposed on a country.
The brunt of the sanctions is fully borne instead by the innocent majority people in the affected country who have little influence on the political direction of the country once they have elected a government into office. As such, the Human Rights Commission totally disagrees with this call as it might lead to more rights being denied to the common people of Zambia," she stated.
Yangailo stated that in the Human Rights Commission's view, complaints about human rights violations might be "justifiable in certain instances".
"Lately, Zambia has indeed experienced suppression of some of the fundamental rights and freedoms, and in the greater majority of instances, this has been directed at prominent politicians and selected political parties which, it may be speculated, are seen as the major threat to the ruling Patriotic Front."
Yangailo stated that what concerned the commission now was that the government had not been seen to take public steps to "address these concerns" being brought forward by its own people.
She stated that the commission expected the government to lead the way by sitting down with the various political parties and dialogue on concerns raised.
"Lack of genuine dialogue between the government and opposition political parties can easily lead to desperation and exasperation on the part of those that may feel not to be part of the country's democratic process and thus seeking foreign intervention in frustration," she stated.
"Consequently, as a Commission, in our capacity as a constitutionally established national human rights watchdog, we now earnestly and urgently call upon our government, to initiate genuine dialogue with all political parties that have concerns regarding the running of the affairs of our country. After all, that is what is expected of a listening government."
Yangailo stated the fact that matters had gone far to involve the international community should not be an impediment to local dialogue.
Yangailo stated that deliberate effort to commence dialogue among all concerned parties with honest intentions was most appropriate at this point.
She noted that other segments of the Zambian society, including the the three church mother bodies, Law Association of Zambia, NGOs and individuals have raised concerns on human rights issues with the government.
"The Catholic Bishops recently issued a Pastoral Letter which also touched on violations of human rights in our country. All these various segments of our country cannot be speaking from without. These developments suggest that something may have seriously gone wrong in our country and this is what our government must rise to and address."
Labels: COMMONWEALTH, HRC, HUMAN RIGHTS, OPPOSITION, PIXIE YANGAILO
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HCR calls for improved justice delivery system
January 1, 2009
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has stressed the call for government to pay particular attention to the justice delivery system and ensure every person facing trial in the courts is afforded a fair trial.
HRC Chairperson Pixie Yangailo said persons facing any kind of trial should have access to legal representation and quick dispensation of their cases.
Mrs. Yangailo told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that there were currently many people who are spending unacceptably long periods in jail awaiting trial.
She said there was need not to spare any efforts in strengthening existing institutions such as the Legal Aid Department (LAD) while exploring any other avenues that would ensure that justice is dispensed appropriately and expeditiously.
She has also called on the government to consider looking into the conditions of the prisons in the country, noting that Zambians prisons were very congested.
She noted that Zambian prisons were the third most congested prisons in Africa.
Mrs. Yangailo has since commended the Ministry of Home Affairs for acknowledging that the prisons were very congested.
She also acknowledged the improvements of transport for the prisoners and the introduction of the parole, the development she said would help de-congest the prisons.
She stated that the commission was opposed to the death penalty, saying the right to life must therefore be upheld at all costs and other demeaning ways of punishment should be resorted to.
The HRC Chairperson has also commended Zambian people for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the October 30, elections which led to having few instances of violence.
She has since urged the media to ensure that they stick to their ethics and not use the power to misinform and wreck havoc on those who, for one reason or another, did not like or support.
And Mrs. Yangailo also said job losses would have a negative impact on the ability of many people to enjoy human rights, especially social and economic rights.
ZANIS/AJN/KSH/ENDS
Labels: ENOCH MULEMBE, HRC, PIXIE YANGAILO, PRISONS
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There is no need to block demos, says Yangailo
Written by Ernest Chanda in Lusaka and Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi
Sunday, December 14, 2008 10:05:56 AM
THERE is no need for the government to block peaceful demonstrations against high mealie- meal prices, Human Rights Commission (HRC) chairperson Pixie Yangailo has said.
And Kapiri Mposhi Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic parish priest, Fr John Lesa has supported the planned demonstrations over high mealie-meal prices, saying this was a wake-up call for the ruling MMD.
In an interview, Yangailo said as long as the demonstrations were done peacefully and within the law, there was no need for the government to stop the people as doing so would be an infringement on their rights.
Yangailo further indicated that the Commission had planned a meeting with the government and the Police to give guidance on opposition Patriotic Front (PF)’s planned protests against high mealie-meal prices.
She said it was important that the Commission sought audience with relevant authorities.
“Although we have not received an official complaint from the people planning to demonstrate, we have read and seen in the media that government intends to block these demonstrations,” Yangailo said. “As a Commission, we want to be aware of the reasons people are being stopped from demonstrating and advise government accordingly. Since it is our mandate to inform people on their rights, we need to fully understand why the opposition are being stopped from demonstrating. Constitutionally, people have a right to demonstrate, but it is good to work with all quarters of society for security reasons. We could have investigated the moment we read and heard about this, but our investigations department is seriously understaffed.”
Last week, defence minister George Mpombo said he would meet the demonstrators with full force if they went ahead with the demonstrations.
This was in response to an announcement from the Patriotic Front that they were organising demonstrations against high mealie-meal prices.
And in an interview, Fr Lesa said the planned demonstrations by the PF in view of the rising prices of mealie-meal and other essential commodities in the country were justified.
Fr Lesa observed that demonstrating was a constitutional right as it bordered on freedom of expression, adding that all the poor people wanted was to be heard by the government.
“Staging a demonstration is a constitutional right; it is freedom of expression, especially that the they intend to hold peaceful protests,” said Fr Lesa. “It is a wake-up call for the government of the day; the poor just want to be heard.”
He explained that mealie meal was Zambia’s staple food for a majority of citizens, adding that the escalating price of the commodity was of great concern to the people.
“I wonder if those ministers even mind about the high prices of mealie-meal because most of them do not entirely depend on this staple food, anyway,” he stated.
He attributed the increase in mealie-meal prices to lack of government control in the milling industry resulting from the privatisation of most parastatal companies.
“There is no government hand in the milling industry and the obvious cause is privatisation,” Fr Lesa said. “Though privatisation was necessary, it was rushed. Everything is now in private hands; government is dealing with businessmen and it is all a capitalist way of thinking.”
He advised that the government should learn to plan ahead before implementing some of its policies.
Fr Lesa cited the period between 1997 and 1998 when the country experienced floods and drought, but the government continued to export maize despite the negative factors.
He further accused the MMD government of laxity, saying what was needed was change.
“Koswe nga aikala sana mung’anda, eba na kasuba [When a rat overstays in a house, it will start stealing even in during day time],” said Fr Lesa.
Labels: DEMONSTRATION, HRC, PIXIE YANGAILO
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