By 
The Catholic Church has described Zambia’s human rights record under the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) as a mixed bag, citing both progress and ongoing concerns.
Caritas Zambia Executive Director, Dr. Gabriel Mapulanga, acknowledged efforts to uphold human rights but noted persistent issues surrounding freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Lusaka, Mapulanga highlighted the abolition of the death penalty and the enactment of the Access to Information Act as positive developments under the UPND government.
However, he cautioned that implementation remained a challenge.
“Concerns persist around the treatment of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists. There have been reports of arbitrary detention, harassment, and intimidation,” he said.
He further pointed out that the Public Order Act has been used to restrict gatherings and protests, while some journalists have faced arrest and prosecution.
Despite these concerns, Mapulanga noted that human rights conditions had improved under the UPND compared to the previous Patriotic Front (PF) administration.
“We shall praise the government when it does something right, but we will also criticize when it does something wrong. Overall, the human rights situation has improved,” he stated.
Mapulanga also welcomed the government’s decision to allow a United Nations Special Rapporteur to assess Zambia’s human rights landscape, adding that citizens eagerly await the findings, which will highlight both progress and areas of concern.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments