USA raises alarm against Zambia

By NATION REPORTER

THE 2023 USA Human Rights and Democracy Report on Zambia has raised alarm against the Zambian government for having continued perpetrating arbitrary arrests, unlawful and extra-judicial killings, torture, degrading and inhuman treatment of citizens with dissenting views.
The report has stated that there were significant human rights issues which included extrajudicial killings, torture, cruel and inhuman punishment being perpetrated by the government.
“There were harsh and life- threatening prison conditions, serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence and threats of violence against journalists, censorship, and enforcement of or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression,” the Report read in part.
The USA Human Rights Report reveals that there was also substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
The United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor further stated that there were several reports that police committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year which the country’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Zambia confirmed.
“For example, in April police reportedly tortured Captain Phiri while he was in detention at Chilenje police station. Phiri later died of injuries caused by this alleged police abuse,” the Reported read.
The report stated that following a statement by the Law Association of Zambia expressing concern regarding Phiri’s death, along with the earlier death in custody of Justin Kolo at Kansenshi police station, HRC in Zambia reported that police had committed acts of torture that resulted in the death of detained suspect.
“Further police at Lusaka central police station reported tortured Maxwell Mwila, a suspect accused of stealing a mobile phone. Mwila subsequently died on July 1, 2023 in custody at Matero police station due to injuries arising from the alleged torture,” the report reads in part.
“In 2021, the HRC received and dealt with nine cases of extrajudicial killings and in 2022 received and dealt with 26 cases of extrajudicial killings. As of November 1, 2023 for the year the Commission received and recorded three cases of extrajudicial killings, all of which the HRC was investigating,” the Report said.
It said that the Zambian Constitution prohibited cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, but there were credible reports that government officials employed such tactics and that according to the HRC, torture had remained prevalent.
The most serious allegations were related to ownership of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, embezzlement, and abuse of authority, and public procurement fraud among former senior government officials.