By IREEN MULENGA
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called for peace and non-discriminatory enforcement of laws and regulating public gatherings ahead of Thursday polls.
Human Right Commission Chairperson Mweelwa Muleya said that every one has an obligation and responsibility to maintain law and order and to respect human rights.
Mr Muleya said that by so doing it will help to create a conducive environment for free expression of the will of the electorate to vote for candidates of their choice.
He said another way of maintaining law and order is for political parties to adhere to the campaign schedules which they committed themselves to.
Mr Muleya said that another way is to stop the continued escalating discriminatory enforcement of the Public Order Act (POA) and the COVID 19 Guidelines to the detriment of the rights of opposition candidates.
“The Commission is issuing this advisory statement against the background of continued incidences of opposition political parties and their candidates being stopped by the Zambia Police Service from interacting with the electorate in some parts of the country while the ruling PF and its candidates is freely campaigning.
“The growing pattern of opposition parties and candidates being deprived of an opportunity to campaign on the same basis with PF has potential to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and must be stopped during the remaining campaign period,” she said.
The Commission is therefore calling for compliance with the international and regional human rights law and the provisions of the Constitution of Zambia prohibiting any form of discrimination.
