By Francis Chipalo
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has disclosed that they are alarming violations of people’s rights by law enforcement officers, particularly the Zambia police service.
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, commission’s chairperson Pamela Sambo said a huge number of human rights abuses by the police occur mostly in rural areas where the officers demand for sureties in formal employment or civil service as a requirement for police bond.
She however said most suspects in rural areas lack such sureties and end up being subjected to prolonged unlawful detention.
Sambo described the trend as deeply worrying especially that the violations are being done by law enforcement officers who are expected to do the opposite.
“A significant proportion of cases, 150 out of 193 (77.7%) were reflective of unlawful detention of suspects by law enforcement officers. This is deeply worrying,” she said.
Sambo explained that the right to personal liberty is guaranteed under Article 13 of the Zambian constitution and various international human rights instruments the country has ratified.
“Yet, this fundamental right continues to be violeted with impunity by law enforcement officers,” Sambo said.
Sambo further said the commission discovered that many detainees are held in conditions far below minimum acceptable human standards, with little attention being paid to their needs.
Meanwhile, Sambo also said the commission was alarmed by the persistent practice of arresting suspects whilst investigations are being carried out.
“This practice is illegal. The suspects should only be arrested once law enforcement officers have sufficient evidence to charge the person with an offence, within the legally prescribed period of 24 hours,” she added.
