Human rights commission in Zambia completes the investiagtions in the killings in Mansa last month

THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS ESTABLISHED THAT THREE INNOCENT PERSONS WERE KILLED BY UNKNOWN PEOPLE IN MANSA ON SUSPICION THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN RITUAL MURDERS TO ENHANCE THEIR BUSINESS.

AND THE COMMISSION SAYS A FURTHER FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WHO, IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO CONTROL THE DISTURBANCES USED LIVE AMMUNITION.

THE FINDINGS COME AFTER THE COMMISSION CONCLUDED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DISTURBANCES AND SUBSEQUENT KILLINGS THAT OCCURRED IN MANSA BETWEEN 19^TH TO 24^TH  APRIL, 2011.

ACCORDING TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS  COMMISSION`S FINDINGS, THE DISTURBANCES WERE PRECIPITATED BY PERSISTENT RUMOURS IN MANSA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE PROVINCE TO THE EFFECT THAT SOME SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMEN WERE INVOLVED IN RITUAL MURDERS.

IN STATEMENT TO RADIO PHOENIX TODAY,  HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKESPERSON SAMUEL KASANKHA SAYS THE RUMOURS PERSISTED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO THE SPONTANEOUS RIOTING BY YOUTHS.

MR. KASANKHA SAYS  THREE UNSUSPECTING BUSINESS PERSONS WERE ATTACKED AND BURNT TO DEATH WHILE THEIR PROPERTY WORTH BILLIONS OF KWACHA WAS EITHER LOOTED OR SET ALIGHT; WHILE OTHERS SUSTAINED INJURIES.

HE STATES THAT THE COMMISSION EXPRESSES REGRET OVER THE WHOLE EPISODE BECAUSE  AS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE, EIGHT LIVES WERE LOST AND A LOT OF PROPERTY LOST.

MR. KASANKHA HAS SINCE URGED ZAMBIANS TO DISCARD ANY REPULSIVE CULTURAL PRACTICES INCLUDING THOSE THAT LEAD TO THE TERMINATION OF PEOPLE’S LIVES WITHOUT RECOURSE TO THE DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW STRESSING THAT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT RITUAL MURDERS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE STANDARD HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL PROCESSES AS PROVIDED FOR BY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LAWS.

AND IN THE SAME VEIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS REITERATED ITS  DISAPPROVAL OF METHODS POLICE HAVE CONTINUED TO USE IN DEALING WITH VARIOUS SECURITY THREATS INCLUDING HANDLING UNARMED RIOTERS AND HAS SINCE URGED GOVERNMENT TO BE VERY QUICK ABOUT RE-EQUIPPING THE POLICE WITH MODERN UTILITIES THEY NEED TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES.

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