By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has praised Government for taking a firm stance against Police brutality.
According to a statement released by the HRC public relations unit, the Commission was happy that Government had maintained it would not tolerate police brutality.
Minister of Home Affairs Ngosa Simbyakula said in Parliament recently that Government would not tolerate police brutality.
“The Commission has been disturbed by the continuing acts of police brutality and abuse of the rights of suspects, including torture, which it hopes will come to an end with the strong stance taken by Government as it sends a clear message that such acts would not be condoned, but should attract sanctions on the perpetrators,” the statement reads.
The HRC was concerned about police torturing suspects like in the case of Emelly Manyoni, who was allegedly verbally and physically abused by police in Mazabuka between January 29 and 31, 2014.
The Commission agreed with Dr Simbyakula that cases of torture and abuse of human rights by law enforcement officers should be prosecuted and never become matters for settlement outside the court if impunity had to end.
The HRC urged Government to seal all loopholes in the system that permit the use of torture by the police.
The Commission supported Government’s plans to equip police with appropriate investigative skills and techniques as that would help them do away with torturous investigative methods because suspects were by law, innocent until proven guilty.