AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17

wave of xenophobic violence against foreign
nationals.
BACKGROUND
Edgar Chagwa Lungu was returned as
President in an election on 11 August which
saw increased tension and violence, primarily
between members of the ruling Patriotic
Front and the opposition United Party for
National Development (UPND). The election
was held under a new Constitution
promulgated on 5 January following a
controversial process.
The UPND questioned the independence
of the judiciary after a UPND petition was
dismissed without being heard by three
Constitutional Court judges who took the
decision without involving two other
Constitutional Court judges.
A constitutional referendum held on 11
August at the same time as the general
election failed to gain the votes required to
amend the country’s bill of rights.
In April, there was a wave of xenophobic
violence against foreign nationals in
Zingalume and George Compounds following
allegations of ritual killings. Shops belonging
to Rwandan and Zimbabwean nationals were
looted. Two Zambian nationals were burned
to death in the xenophobic attacks. The
alleged perpetrators were arrested and
convicted of murder.
The Global Hunger Index of 2016 ranked
Zambia as the third hungriest country in the
world, with nearly half of the population
undernourished.
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
The authorities used the Public Order Act,
enacted in 1955, selectively; they arbitrarily
restricted the right to freedom of assembly for
opposition political parties. Police used
excessive force to disperse crowds. On 8
July, police used live ammunition to disperse
protesters in Chawama Township in the
capital Lusaka, killing Mapenzi Chibulo, a
young woman UPND supporter.
On 5 October, UPND leaders Hakainde
Hichilema and Geoffrey Mwamba were
arrested and charged with unlawful assembly
and seditious practices following a brief
meeting with party supporters at a village in
Mpongwe District. 1 They were released on
bail pending trial in October.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
On 21 March, Eric Chanda, leader of the
Fourth Revolution political party, was arrested
and charged with defaming the President
in 2015.
On 20 June, the printing presses of The
Post newspaper were seized by the tax
authorities and its operations shut down. On
27 June, police beat and arrested editor-inchief
Fred M’membe and his wife Mutinta
Mazoka-M’membe, and deputy managingeditor
Joseph Mwenda. The charges against
them included breaking into The Post
building.
On 22 August, the Zambian Independent
Broadcasting Authority (IBA) suspended the
licences of three independent broadcasters –
Muvi TV, Komboni Radio and Radio Itezhi.
Four Muvi TV media workers − John
Nyendwa, Mubanga Katyeka, Joe Musakanya
and William Mwenge – who had reported for
work were arrested and charged with criminal
trespass. The licences were subsequently
reinstated.
Despite the reinstatement of Komboni
Radio’s licence, on 5 October the station’s
director, Lesa Kasoma Nyirenda, was beaten
by six armed policemen who prevented her
from accessing the premises. She was also
charged with assaulting a police officer.
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
In March the UN Committee on the Rights of
the Child issued its concluding observations
on Zambia. The Committee expressed
concern that vulnerable children were being
denied equal access to a range of services
including health and education. Under-five
and infant mortality rates remained high
while adolescents lacked access to adequate
reproductive health services and information.
The Committee also highlighted the
imposition of primary school fees and the
high dropout rates for girls due to
404 Amnesty International Report 2016/17