AMNESTY International (AI) has called on Zambian President, Edgar Lungu to respect and protect human rights, the right freedom of assembly, expression and participation in political affairs and personal integrity.
AI secretary general, Salil Shetty met Lungu at State House to express concern over government’s failure to uphold citizens’ rights to express their make peaceful demands on their government.
“Zambia is facing a number of human rights challenges. Police constantly use the vague and overly broad provisions of the Public Order Act to limit the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
“The recent threatened state of emergency was a low point,” Shetty said after a meeting with Lungu, according to a report in the Lusaka Times.
In July, Lungu declared a state of emergency in response to a series of alleged arson attacks at a time when political tensions are high over the continued detention of opposition leader, Haikande Hichilema.
Zambia had been on the edge over the arrest and detention of opposition leader, Hichilema over treason charges.
He was charged with treason following his arrest on his way to a ceremony in the Western province of Zambia recently.
Zambian authorities initially said his crime was attempting to block President Lungu’s motorcade, threatening his security.
