History

History
Zambia pledged itself, as a Member State of the United Nations to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect and observance of human rights and freedom in the nation. It is in this vein that the Government of the Republic of Zambia established the Human Rights Commission (HRC).

The establishment of a permanent human rights institution was recommended by the Human Rights Commission of Inquiry (The Munyama Commission of Inquiry), which was appointed in 1992 by Former President, Dr. Fredrick Chiluba to investigate and establish violations of human rights during the Second Republic years (1972 to 1991) as well as violations that occurred in the Third Republic (after October 30, 1991 when the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) came to power.

The Munyama Commission of Inquiry noted that many witnesses who testified to the Commission appreciated the appointment of the Commission of Inquiry and expressed the need for the Government to establish a permanent institution to safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms. The idea of a permanent institution for the promotion and protection of human rights had also been recommended by the Mwanakatwe Constitution Review Commission, which was constituted to spearhead the introduction of constitutional amendments that were effected in 1996. So in 1996, the Government introduced a new constitution and one of the new aspects introduced in the constitution was Part XII entitled “Human Rights Commission.”

Article 125(1) established the Human Rights Commission. Article 125(2) stated that the Commission was to be an autonomous body. Article 126 provided that the functions and powers, composition, funding and administrative procedures were to be prescribed in an Act of Parliament. In 1996, the Human Rights Commission Act No. 39 of 1996 was created.

In April, 1997 the first set of commissioners were appointed by the then Republican President, Dr Fredrick Titus Chiluba. These were:

• Justice Lombe Chibesakunda as the Chairperson
• Mr. Lavu Mulimba
• Mr. John Sakulanda
• Mr. Lewis Changufu
• Mr. Francis Nsokolo, and
• Reverend Foston Sakala

The current Commissioners were appointed in February 2004 by President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. The Chairperson was Mr. Mumba Malila, now Attorney General.

Mrs. Pixie Yangailo who was Vice- Chairperson is now the Chairperson. Mr. Palan Mulonda is the Vice-Chairpeson. Others are Mr. Kenneth Maduma, Mr. Alfred Sakala, and Mrs. Godfridah Sumaili.