Zambia marks End of Grave Rights Violations Era

By Sharon Siame

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion IRENE KHAN says there has been a significant political transition and an end to a decade of rule marked by great human rights violations since the UPND administration assumed office.

Ms. KHAN was speaking when she called on President Hakainde Hichilema at State House in Lusaka today.

She said she appreciates the change that has taken place under the UPND Administration and that she is the first UN Rapporteur to visit the country in the last eight years.

Ms. KHAN expressed gratitude for Government’s willingness to address human rights challenges with the UN and that she had access to a wide range of stakeholders in the country.

And President HICHILEMA said his Administration is ready to work with International Organisations such as the United Nations to improve human rights in the country.

President HICHILEMA said Government is open to conversations around freedom of expression and that it is for this reason that his Administration invited the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion IRENE KHAN to conduct an assessment in the country.

The President said it is regrettable that such visitations were not conducted in the past years.

He noted that this would have created a good comparative on the situation before and after the elections as a basis for finding ways of improving human rights in the country.