Human Rights Commission raises alarm over hate speech, online abuse as election nears

The Human Rights Commission has expressed growing concern over a rise in hate speech, threats and online abuse during the current election campaign, urging citizens and political leaders to verify information before sharing it and to exercise restraint in the final stretch before polling day.

HRC chairperson Pamela Sambo said elections represent a key expression of democracy, allowing citizens to exercise their constitutional right to participate in public affairs and freely choose their leaders. She said, however, that the credibility of an election depends not only on voting itself but also on ensuring that all citizens can participate in a safe, free and dignified environment throughout the process.

She disclosed that during the commission’s recent case review meeting, 105 allegations of human rights violations and abuses linked to the election period were considered. Of these, 62 were successfully resolved through mediation, engagement with responsible institutions, referrals for legal assistance, corrective measures and other forms of redress. The cases involved a range of circumstances and implicated duty-bearers including law enforcement agencies, justice sector institutions and other public and private entities.

Ms Sambo said all stakeholders share a responsibility to ensure that political activities and security operations protect human rights, safeguard children and uphold the dignity of every individual during the electoral process. She said the commission was disclosing the review not to alarm the public but to demonstrate that concerns raised were being tracked and, in most cases, resolved through established channels rather than left unaddressed.

She placed particular emphasis on the treatment of children caught up in the political environment, especially those who come into conflict with the law. Children, she said, must be treated with dignity, taking into account their age and potential for rehabilitation and reintegration, rather than being exposed to punitive treatment that ignores their vulnerability. The commission, she added, is working with the Department of Social Welfare and other institutions to ensure affected children receive appropriate protection and support.

The concerns raised by the commission touch on a theme that has drawn broader commentary in recent days: the speed at which misinformation and hostile rhetoric can spread online, often faster than the facts needed to correct it. Falsehoods shared during a tightly contested campaign period, observers note, can provoke conflict, damage reputations or shape public opinion long before an official correction has the chance to catch up.

Political leaders carry a particular responsibility in this regard, given the influence their words hold over supporters who often take cues directly from their conduct. Leaders who resort to inflammatory language, personal attacks or unverified allegations risk creating an atmosphere that favours hostility over the kind of issue-based competition elections are meant to encourage.

The commission’s disclosure comes at a moment when Zambia’s broader electoral machinery, from the Electoral Commission of Zambia to political parties and church mother bodies, has been engaged in a parallel effort to promote peaceful conduct ahead of the 13 August vote. Several parties recently signed a peace pledge committing themselves to reject violence, intimidation and hate speech throughout the campaign, the election itself and its aftermath.

Ms Sambo said the responsibility to safeguard peaceful elections cannot rest with the commission alone. Political parties, she said, must educate their members on responsible conduct and condemn acts of hate speech regardless of who commits them, while ordinary citizens have a role to play by verifying information before sharing it and resisting the temptation to amplify unconfirmed claims.

With the country now in the final two weeks of campaigning, the commission’s intervention serves as both a status update and a reminder that the tone set in the closing days of an election often shapes how citizens remember the process long after the results are declared.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Hot this week

Fuel prices fall for third straight month as ERB cuts pump prices across the board August 1, 2026 0 Fuel prices fall for third straight month as ERB... Headlines

ECZ confirms ballot materials untampered ahead of distribution August 1, 2026 0 Ballot papers cleared for nationwide rollout as stakeholders confirm... Sports

Kings Kangwa ‘Honoured’ to join Panathinaikos July 31, 2026 0 Chipolopolo star Kings Kangwa has expressed his excitement after... General News

Vice President calls for continued collaboration with Chiefs July 31, 2026 2 Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, has called for continued collaboration... General News

President Hichilema pledges to improve road network in Nalolo July 31, 2026 3 President Hakainde Hichilema has assured the people of Nalolo...

Topics

Fuel prices fall for third straight month as ERB cuts pump prices across the board 0 Fuel prices fall for third straight month as ERB... Headlines

ECZ confirms ballot materials untampered ahead of distribution 0 Ballot papers cleared for nationwide rollout as stakeholders confirm... Sports

Kings Kangwa ‘Honoured’ to join Panathinaikos 0 Chipolopolo star Kings Kangwa has expressed his excitement after... General News

Vice President calls for continued collaboration with Chiefs 2 Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, has called for continued collaboration... General News

President Hichilema pledges to improve road network in Nalolo 3 President Hakainde Hichilema has assured the people of Nalolo... General News

Government recommits to creating opportunities for MSMEs 0 Government says it is creating opportunities for Micro, Small... General News

Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) inspects UTH re-established radiotherapy 0 The Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) has completed a comprehensive... Sports

Klings Kangwa has completed a move to Greek Super League giants Panathinaikos. 2 Zambian international Klings Kangwa has completed a move to...

Related Articles

Fuel prices fall for third straight month as ERB cuts pump prices across the board

ECZ confirms ballot materials untampered ahead of distribution Headlines August 1, 2026

Dr Canicius Banda dies

Nason Msoni: PF struggling to gain ground in rural Zambia

UPND accuses Mundubile of politicising Solwezi musicians incident

Popular Categories