By Sharon Siame
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has called for peace, tolerance, and respect among citizens.
He says differences should be resolved through dialogue rather than violence.
The President notes that while the right to protest is guaranteed in law, it must not be misused in ways that lead to disorder or loss of life.
President HICHILEMA said this when he officiated at this year’s Human Rights Day in Lusaka on Wednesday.
He condemned violent behaviour on social media, saying the platform has increasingly become a danger to society.
The President has since called for the enactment of laws to protect innocent people and ensure that offenders are prosecuted.
He also announced that Government is moving gender-based violence offences to non-bailable status as part of efforts to safeguard human rights for all.
President HICHILEMA said ending GBV must receive the attention it deserves and that both men and women must be protected.
He further assured citizens that his Administration remains committed to advancing human rights through the implementation of sound policies.
Human Rights Commission Chairperson, PAMELA SAMBO, noted recent achievements in human rights, including the repeal of the offence of defamation of the President from the Penal Code and the abolition of the death penalty.
Dr. SAMBO urged Government to revive and expedite the repeal of the Public Order Act and replace it with a more progressive Public Gatherings Act.
Meanwhile, Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council Chairperson, BEAUTY KATEBE, represented by Publicity Secretary LEAH MUTABA, also acknowledged Zambia’s progress in strengthening human rights protections through constitutional provisions.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, BEATRICE MUTALI, urged Zambia to keep human rights at the centre of its democratic processes as the nation approaches the 2026 General Election.
Ms. MUTALI said human rights are not only international commitments but practical protections that guide how citizens express themselves.
European Union Ambassador to Zambia and COMESA, KAROLINA STASIAK, said human rights must be recognised as practical and attainable essentials central to the dignity and well-being of all people.
Ms. STASIAK also welcomed progress made under the free education policy, noting that education is a fundamental right for all learners.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister SHEAL MULYATA said the Human Rights Day theme aligns with the UPND Government’s commitment to justice, dignity, and wider freedoms.
The theme for the Human Rights Day was: “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.”
