23 April 2011
A LUSAKA-based lawyer has said the Human Rights Commission (HRC) is an important organ of the Government and that Zambia cannot do without it.
Mr Abraham Mwansa said yesterday that the commission was doing a lot to promote, advocate and protect human rights in Zambia despite the criticism it faced from some sections of the Zambian society.
He said the only problem HRC was facing was that it had no judicial function as it only made recommendations on various on issues.
Mr Mwansa was reacting to former Senanga member of Parliament and Communications and Transport minister William Harrington’s comment in yesterday’s edition of the Post newspaper that the commission was an irrelevant institution and was only there to serve the interests of the MMD administration.
“Because the commission lacks judicial functions, it is viewed by some people as doing nothing when in fact it is doing a lot to promote, advocate and protect human rights in Zambia,” Mr Mwansa said.
He said there was need to amend the law to give judicial powers to the commission.
And MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu advised Mr Harrington not touse Mwiya Sihope’s death to gain political mileage.
Mr Nyangu said yesterday the ruling party was saddened by the death of Mr Sihope, who died recently after a long battle with asthma and a gangrene attack.
The HRC chairperson, Pixie Yangailo said last week that the commission was investigating a picture of the deceased published on the front page of the Post following the amputation of one of his legs.
The paper linked the amputation of the leg to his detention on a treason charge over the Mongu riots in January this year.
A number of interest groups voiced concern over the picture that showed Mr Sihope’s bare body, with the commission saying it wanted to establish whether permission had been sought either from the deceased or his family before the photograph was taken.
Mr Nyangu said it was unfortunate that Mr Harrington could utter such a comment instead of helping the bereaved family and comforting them.
He said it was clear from the medical report that Mr Sihope died of an asthma-related illness and not the detention as was alleged by some people.
Mr Nyangu said the MMD was happy with the manner the commission was conducting itself because it was following the right procedure in handling different cases in Zambia.
And HRC spokesperson Samuel Kasanka lashed out at Mr Harrington’s statement, saying it was not fair for him to utter such comments when the commission was doing everything possible to protect people’s interests.
He said it had become fashionable for some sectors of society to blame the commission even when it was working hard to cater for everyone in Zambia.
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Taken from:
HRC Key Player, Says Lawyer