Success Stories

HRC in marathon sensitization tour

As part of its mandate to give information and education to all people on their rights, the Human Rights Commission decided to fully participate in sensitizing potential voters on their rights as they related to elections in the run up to the 2006 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.

With funding from the United Nations Development Programme, the Information, Education and Training department undertook sensitization through open air theatrical and dance performances in all the eight districts of the Eastern Province, namely Nyimba, Petauke, Katete, Chadiza, Mambwe, Lundazi, Chama and Chipata.

In the Western Province, Senanga, Kalabo, Mongu and Kaoma were covered while in the Northern Province, Mungwi, Kasama, Mpulungu, Mbala, Mpika, Isoka, Chinsali and Nakonde were covered.

For the Eastern Province, the touring sensitization team comprised the Chief of Information, Education and Training, Mr Samuel Kasankha from the Commission headquarters in Lusaka and an intern from the University of Zambia, Erica Chakota. They were accompanied by John Chitalima and Moses Mulenga from the Chipata office, which also arranged a local community theatre group. Kasankha and Chakota later went to Northern Province where they were joined by Chanda Musonda and Martin Banda of the Kasama Office and a Kasama based theatre group.

For Western Province, two teams went at different times. They included Mr Jew Monde, then Senior Investigations Officer, Kasankha and Ms Simui Sinyama, Research and Planning Assistant from headquarters, in the company of Mongu’s Kababu Nsamba and the Kuomboka Youth Group.

These teams did an average of three shows per day per district, concentrating on high density areas and open spaces like markets. They started with performances followed by discussion and question and answer sessions. More often than not, these were followed by one on one discussions with people who wanted to make complaints there and then.

While the stated aim was sensitization on electoral rights, the demand for information on and knowledge of other rights was so evident and overwhelming that the performances were often adjusted to include human rights in general. For instance, it was discovered that in areas bordering game management areas like Mfuwe in Mambwe, people were more concerned about what protection they could receive against alleged brutality by Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) game scouts. The people constantly felt that the Government was giving more prominence to animal rights than human rights! In Western Province, it was not unusual for people to be preoccupied with and demand for information on land matters!

There were many complaints which were received on the spot and in turn referred to the local provincial offices in the respective provinces to deal with. It was obvious that in general, a sizeable percentage of the population were indeed aware of the existence of the Human Rights Commission and what it was established to do. They were also aware that they had rights but the major task ahead is to get them and the bigger proportion which is ignorant, to know all their rights as well
as what to do in the event that they are violated.

Asked to comment on the tours, Kasankha told HRC Bulletin that there was a definite need for massive information and education campaigns that were multifaceted and multimedia-based in nature. “With the Commission’s current limited staffing levels, this is a gargantuan task which can best be effective if other stakeholders are brought on board,” he observed. “Credible non governmental and community based organisations, church and student organisations, trade unions and the like all have an important role to play in sensitizing the masses. Where the willing and worthwhile can be identified, the Commission must create networks and collaborations in this exercise.

The sensitization process must be decentralised to the local grassroots themselves while the Commission plays a facilitative role.”

He also felt that the oneday-per district exercise was by far inadequate. “If efforts are harnessed, it would become possible, just as it is desirable, to spend more time and get deeper into the remote parts of the districts where there might be even more need for knowledge on human rights. And at the end of it all, one hopes that as people know their rights, they will also be given tips on how to claim them!”