Zambia Police Accused of Brazen Human Rights Violations

In an exposé, Zambia’s former Ambassador to the United Nations, Emmanuel Mwamba, has detailed a disturbing pattern of human rights abuses by the Zambia Police Force. Through court documents and witness testimonies, Mwamba has revealed a troubling picture of a police service that routinely engages in unlawful abductions, detentions, assaults, and extortion.

The case of Vinod and Uddit Sadhu, a father-son duo, stands out as a particularly egregious example. According to Mwamba, the Sadhus were unlawfully kidnapped, detained, and interrogated by a group of armed men who falsely claimed to be police officers. The abductors, who were later identified as including a known UPND party cadre, grilled the Sadhus about their financial contributions to the opposition party and their ownership of a pharmaceutical company.

Mwamba also highlighted the cases of other prominent individuals, such as Shabby Chilekwa, Chisanga Chanda, and Chilufya Tayali, who have all fallen victim to similar police brutality and extrajudicial actions. In his own personal experience, Mwamba recounted being trailed, abducted, and assaulted by a group of over a dozen police officers, despite his repeated protests.

The ambassador’s revelations paint a disturbing picture of a police force that has abandoned its duty to protect and serve the people, instead using its power to harass, intimidate, and extort from citizens, particularly those perceived to be political opponents of the ruling party.

Mwamba’s statement comes on the heels of a recent U.S. State Department report on Zambia’s human rights record, which also highlighted numerous instances of police abuse, including unlawful killings, torture, and arbitrary detentions.

This crisis of police accountability and integrity has far-reaching implications for Zambia’s democratic institutions and the rule of law. As Mwamba rightly pointed out, the government’s failure to investigate and hold the perpetrators of these abuses accountable is deeply troubling.

The Zambian people deserve a police force that upholds the highest standards of professionalism and respects their fundamental human rights. The government must take immediate and decisive action to address this crisis and restore public trust in the country’s law enforcement agencies.

InfinityMediaHub

16th July, 2024