Zambia has rejected allegations made by the United Nations Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council regarding the state of human rights in the country.
On Thursday, August 29, UN independent experts expressed concern over numerous reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions involving leaders and members of opposition parties, parliamentarians, human rights defenders, and activists.
The experts claimed that those arrested faced charges including unlawful assembly, espionage, hate speech, and seditious practices, urging the Zambian government to immediately stop infringing on the fundamental rights of its citizens.
But Chief Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the government finds it disturbing that the special rapporteurs issued a media statement without following the laid down producers of giving the affected state an opportunity to clear the statement before being released.
Mr Mweetwa said the government has learnt that the email, through which the press release was relayed to the embassy, was under the wrong subject tag showing that the statement was about Zimbabwe.
Mr Mweetwa was speaking in Choma today during a press briefing held at the provincial administration.
Mr Mweetwa who is also information and Media Minister, indicated that the government will lodge a formal complaint to the United Nation Human Rights Council.
Mr Mweetwa said it was expected of the government to respond to the special rapporteurs’ allegations within the allotted time before making allegations to the public as this is a standard procedure that has been followed over the years.
Mangani has just been arrested on frivolous charges. Bangwe Navilley was taken in over frivolous allegations. Mr Mweetwa don’t think you are immortal. You must always remember that you are just as human as all of us. Some young person from Kitwe has been imprisoned in Southern Province for complaining about the hardships….why incarcerate him in a strange place as if there are no jails in Kitwe?
Of course as perpetrators of you can’t see it.
Picking up unnecessary fights with Zimbabwe again…
Hello UPND and Alliance partners. As leaders be prepared to accept constructive criticism and praise. This observation is timely and should help us prepare for inclusive election in 2026. Lets embrace the observation and use it to build on our Human Rights profile. We have a lot to do and lets move and fight load shedding because fighting each will dilute our focus and energies. God bless Zambia
The statement should have been “UPND has rejected” NOT Zambia. For what we know as Zambians, Chishimba Kambwili, Lusambo are in and out of court. We have never had any explanation on Mumbi Phiri who was imprisoned for a year and came out dull. Now we have a mysteriously missing JJ Banda for the second time. Mweetwa, time for atoning for your sins and Hichilema’s sins will come. Meanwhile when you are busy refuting this and that, Zambia is having the worst power/fuel/food/desease crisis in the history of Zambia.
The case of J J is all shrouded in mystery
Yawn!!!!!!!! pangas are out, fighting fellow ZEDIANS who have different views, fighting neighboring nations, pipo get arrested / abducted without bail etc.. we are a nation in this era with excellent human rights. Poverty, unemployment, load-shedding, food poisoning is human rights abuse you fat cat!!!!!!!
He is not fat!
Lets find lasting solution to our electricity crisis please Mr Mweetwa…..this is what you promised Zambians…stop diverting attention
Mwetwa is Minister of Information and Government Spokesperson not Minister of Energy or ZESCO Managing Director.Your head is very twisted
Hope he won’t boycott the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) like he did with SADC
Mwanza the little boy arrested at Freedom statue is not human rights abuse??? Mweetwa go to law school the correct Law school and cleanse your propagandistic mind
WHY CANT SOME MARCH TO ZESCO HQ ??
Was the false ??
Those with eyes will see…