Lusaka, Zambia — Critics of Zambia’s legislation towards insulting the president have welcomed the federal government’s repeal of the arguable measure as a step ahead for democracy. Rights teams say the colonial-era legislation has been used to silence govt critics. President Hakainde Hichilema introduced the repeal over the weekend at the side of the abolition of the demise penalty.
Daniel Sinjwala Libati, a human rights legal professional, advised VOA that he’s proud of the repeal of the defamation legislation, introduced past due Friday by means of Hichilema.
“Very good, very good,” he mentioned. “It allows people to freely criticize, not insult, freely criticize the presidency and provide checks and balances and constructive criticism in line with freedom of expression under our bill of rights.”
Political analyst Guess Nyirenda mentioned whilst he’s proud of the modification of the legislation, so much nonetheless must be performed to advertise freedom of expression in Zambia.
“We would like to urge President Hakainde Hichilema to set the tone and continue doing good especially in attending to the draconian and archaic laws,” he mentioned.
Opposition National Democratic Party chief Saboi Imboela has been arrested a couple of instances below the defamation legislation.
She advised VOA that whilst she welcomes the repeal of the legislation, she urges Zambians to workout warning. She famous that the life of cybersecurity rules is a priority, as they nonetheless limit freedom of expression.
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“I see a situation whereby they are going to use any laws whatsoever to ensure that they get to the political opponents, so the people in Zambia should not even feel comfortable,” mentioned Imboela. “They should be careful now actually more than ever before about what they say on Facebook because the president and his people are now going to use the cyber laws to come after you for whatever it is you are going to say.”
In a remark past due Friday, Hichilema additionally introduced the repeal of the demise penalty. Zambia’s closing execution came about in 1997 however some 250 other people had been nonetheless on demise row as of 2021, together with 9 other people newly sentenced.
Mwelwa Muleya, spokesperson for the Zambia Human Rights Commission, which oversees human rights problems within the nation, advised VOA the repeal of the rules will reinforce Zambia ‘s human rights document following greater arrests of political combatants.
“The signing of that bill into law is a landmark development towards enhancing fundamental rights to life and freedom of expression and must be commended by everyone,” mentioned Muleya.
Earlier in 2022, Amnesty International’s secretary-general, Agnes Callamard, met with Hichilema in Zambia, urging his govt to repeal the defamation legislation, which were used to silence critics since its enactment in 1965.
During his election marketing campaign closing 12 months, Hichilema promised to uphold human rights and freedom of expression.
In the previous 12 months on my own, no less than 12 critics and combatants of Hichilema had been arrested for insulting the president, some a couple of instances.
Author: VOA
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