Former LAZ President Linda Kasonde has announced the formation of a new organization called Chapter One Foundation which she says will be used to promote human rights, constitutionalism and the rule of law in Zambia.
Ms. Kasonde who is Executive Director of the Foundation stated that Chapter One Foundation has been born from the growing threat on the rule of law in Zambia.
In a statement, Ms. Kasonde noted that the goal of the Foundation was to see a Zambia where citizens are freely and actively participating in the governance of the country.
Ms. Kasonde noted that Increased inequality, growing populism and weakening of public institutions and public accountability were affecting the country’s ability to deliver on the sustainable development goals.
“Chapter One Foundation is pleased to announce that it was officially launched at an event on Thursday 5th September 2019. Chapter One was founded to promote and protect human rights, human rights defenders, constitutionalism and the rule of law through litigation, advocacy and civic education in a sustainable manner. Chapter One Foundation is named after Chapter One of the Laws of Zambia which contains the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law by which every Zambian, regardless of status is bound. We at Chapter One Foundation take our constitutional duty to uphold and defend the Constitution very seriously,” said Ms. Kasonde.
She disclosed that her organisation was funded by the Swedish government, ActionAid and Caritas Zambia among others.”
“Chapter One Foundation is financially supported by the Swedish Embassy, the National Endowment for Democracy, ActionAid Zambia and Caritas Zambia who all recognise the growing need to defend the civic space in Zambia. It is these principles that guide the work of Chapter One Foundation, our goal is to see a Zambia where citizens are freely and actively participating in the governance of Zambia, and where “we the people” take our rightful place as the authors of our own destiny.”
She said, “to achieve this, we recognize that we have to put the individual at the heart of our work, that is why human rights are at the core of what we do.”
“Human rights, the people that defend human rights, constitutionalism and the rule of law are facing a growing threat the world over and Zambia is no exception. Increased inequality, growing populism and weakening of public institutions and public accountability is affecting our ability to deliver on the sustainable development goals that Zambia has signed up to. The mere existence of public institutions is not enough to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights; these public institutions must also be guided by certain principles that ensure the institutions truly function for the benefit of society,” she stated.
I respect your bravery. Edgar Lungu’s govt is not a conducive environment for civil society to flourish.
All the best to you for your courage at this point in Zambia’s history when standing up toa tyrant govt is not so popular.
She looks naturally beautiful, so marriageable.
Since Linda Kasonde and Chapter One Foundation has rejected the Amendment Bill No.10 and Petitioned it in Concourt we shall see if Lungu will ban the NGO. Chapter One Foundation and LAZ have annoyed Lungu and PF by Petitioning Bill 10. This is undermining Lungu and PF’s Plans to Rig the 2021 Election for Lungu and PF. Lungu and PF are probably planning to ban such NGOS as we get closer to the 2021 Elections. Time will tell.
Linda kubula ifyakucita!
@The Nubian Princess. Atleast she’s not a stripper.
The second worst (waste) thing to happen in Zambia after UPND – H-organisation.
Soon she will start promoting homosexuality in the name of human rights. She should always remember that there are no absolute rights. She is Linda and Linda is her name.
!MECILE HAS CRAPPED AGAIN
Congrats Madam Kasonde.It is a noble cause and for the good of Zambia. All the best
The PF must wake up. All these NGOs, the catholic opening the TV station are meant to fight the change of Government. Watch this space.
Does this woman really know what she wants in life or is this another form of colonialism simply because she will receive some few dollars which only her will certainly abuse? Tell me something, do these same NGOs exist in the countries that want to come and tell us what to do? I have been in all these countries and havent heard of these silly NGOs anywhere, but why here in Africa? Thats why I like and and support President Kagame, he puts the so called donors where they belong in clear and plain language.
Linda Kasonde is supposed to be practicing law which she studied at the expense of tax payers money and supporting those those who cant afford legal fees. I dont see the value and benefit that most of these NGOs bring other than making those in charge behave in suspicious manner when…
It’s quite simple really…do they have the same human rights abuses in those countries? Am not sure who else you want to stand up for human rights if not people like her, solid enough to raise their voices at wrong-doings.
Tex Mex – Yes, they do. Do a bit researching and you will come to understand.
contd
Linda Kasonde is supposed to be practicing law which she studied at the expense of tax payers money and supporting those those who cant afford legal fees. I dont see the value and benefit that most of these NGOs bring other than making those in charge behave in suspicious manner when they receive the few dollars, its a big disgrace!
@Malinso the role of lawyers is not only to defend criminals in court but also to fight for human rights, promote rule of law and ensure that the constitution is strictly adhered to. It is a noble cause which every well meaning Zambian citizen should support
Well done Linda Kasonde and welcome on Board Chapter One Foundation. Chapter One Foundation has Petitioned the Amendment Bill No.10 at Concourt. What became of this Petition against the mutilation of our Constitution? Lungu and PF want to Rig the 2021 Election thru Bill 10. This Bill whose main objective is to create a One Man Party Dictatorship under Lungu must be rejected and voted out in its entirety.#All Progressive MPs should vote against Bill No. 10 of 2019. Period.
Ati Chola…you are not Chola but hachola….we know ba under5
Malinso thinks like a malinso indeed.
The most common feature amongst all NGOs is that they’re all sponsored by foreign interests. Who pays the piper calls the tune.
Lungu and human rights do not go together…….that’s why he is calling on other African leaders to rule like Mugabe….
UPND Namwala Constituency speaking.
Linda to me seems to be a lost soul. The way she ran LAZ is nothing short of embarrassing. Never had we seen LAZ be so politically inclined, it was shocking some of the personal political issues she was involving the association in.
Asking the courts to include LAZ as “A friend to the courts” in a highly political case. And when you asked association members, which direction they were going, they were also wondering where she was drawing consus from. It was clear that Fred mmembe and her former bosses, the nchito brothers were the ones running the association as her puppet masters
Mama, you can now dance vimbuza dance for the Swedish government, caritas and action aid. Start farting and making noise with kambwili. But remember, if you don’t dance hard enough, funding will stop. So make sure you increase the volume on corrupt contracts, Millie meal prices, electricity deficits and HH human rights and public order act. If you don’t, you and your family will starve.
Oh and ba Lusaka times, can you please correct the caption on your headline picture. Linda is standing with pompi, that’s not pilato. Pilato is a very ugly slovenly dressed, arm pit stinking lice (inda) hotel and it is an insult to pompi to be mistaken for pilato.
They corrected it to Pilate.
Swedish.etc Guess whats coming?These sponsors are known for one and one thing only -Gay rights as if these can bring food on the table!These are the kind of Zambians willing to sell their soul for the money which comes with such.Wake up Zambia!
Some names should never be used even on the children because they bring omen in the family. Just using the name Maliso in itself is a curse. Look at the reasoning from this Malinso. Do you know the role of a lawyer? Just google you will find answers.
Who told you that the role of lawyers is just to practice. No wonder you are a malinso. Can you teach Kasonde who has gone to the level of LAZ president not to know what to do?
To Kasonde all the best. Remember that along the way you will meet a lot of Malinsos don’t despair just move on and step on them.
@ Ndeti Nati
I can see that you have no brains and thats why you shall forever be answerable to these half baked grade twelve failures from the so called donor countries. Can you, in that skin of yours even be tolerated to start those funny organisations called NGOs in those countries? No wonder you are backwards.
In the first place you cant even define the term Human Rights because you never invented it in the first place. Ulunkumbwa, learn to innovate and create home made solutions otherwise you shall forever remains crumbs eaters……
Good Move. Bright Move LINDA. We miss your days at Law Society of Zambia.
NGOs supported by Scandinavian dollars seem to be inclined towards supporting gay rights or these donors put such a precondition. I would be comfortable with British aid.
Malinso – kwena uli Malinso zoona – Who invented the platform you are using and the internet, your ancestors? The words Grade Seven did they come from your ancestors. You are just clouded with inferiority complex. There is nothing on you that your ancestors invented you are using.
That NGO is being formed by a Zambian who has good reasons to do that and not by a foreign national. How do you bring foreign nationals in this matter. Yes I can attest to the fact that there are Zambians to be specific running NGOS in foreign Muzungu Countries not in Africa because they can’t be allowed where there are people of your calibre.
I salute you Linda, you are indeed one of a kind mwaichewandi!
Long over due we knew it was coming next it will a political party.
The arrival of Chapter One Foundation is welcome and timely. Chapter One has come at a critical time when Lungu is trying to legislate thru the back a One Party PF State thru Bill No.10. Its good to note that Chapter One Foundation has already Petitioned Bill No.10 at Concourt. This Notorious Bill has to be fought on various fronts. Eventually MPs will have to vote on this Bill. We hope ProgressIve PF MPs will join UPND MPs and vote against the Bill No. 10 of 2019. Anybody against a One Party Dictatorship should Reject this Bill at all costs. Linda Kasonde and Chapter One Foundation has been formed to strengthen our nascent Constitutional Democracy.# Rejected Bill 10 in its entirety and all costs to avoid Lungu and PF Dictatorship.
What is that are fearing if u are not a human rights abuser?
Those that doesn’t know what a human right have no rights to comment. If u don’t know what human rights are, then u can’t also know when they are violated.
I believe that the Registrar of Society could not have permitted her to register her NGO if there were no human right abuses in Zambia. Common sense is not common.
What do you know about human rights?
Are you not the same people who voted against the bill of rights during the referendum just because your supreme leader said so without any convincing reason.
So to you an NGO is more important than a clause in the constitution???
Pathetic!
Madam Linda Kasonde, please help us. Load shedding in PHI today was from 06hrs in the morning to 17hrs this evening. This failure in every thing in this country is really getting out of hand. How on earth can 06 to 17hrs be 8 hours. Can this Zesco thing be off loaded to competent management/people
hyena hyenas month piece sponsored we know…Desperate hyena