IN THE NAME OF HUMAN RIGHTS: JJ BANDA’S MISPLACED SUPPORT
By Bilon Kalumbinga, Cand. Th.D.
INTRODUCTION:
Whichever way you looked at JJ’s issue, even if it was through the lens of human rights comprehensively or through the “Right to a fair trial” or
“Freedom from torture and arbitrary arrest”, JJ Banda was grossly wrong in calling for President Hakainde Hichilema, as the Head of State, to be assassinated. That is treasonous by all standards of law.
MY THOUGHTS@
And so, “whatever” “treatment” JJ may be subjected to, he “asked” for it. Let’s not pretend and let’s not be hypocritical.
So, for those calling for JJ’s Human Rights, let’s share some education here..
As we speak, there are 3 (three) main streams of Human Rights, with the 4th being the emerging Digital and Technological Rights.
So here they are:
•Civil and Political Rights
•Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
•Collective or Solidarity Rights
•Digital and Technological Rights
I have been watching the developments, reactions, propaganda, cheap politicking, desperate manoeuvres and the hypocrisy surrounding the JJ Banda arrest (capture) with interest!
I must say, Zambia needs strong leadership to bring our nation back to normalcy, so we can start behaving like a normal civilised people who have been independent for 62 years.
I hear certain pockets of our society calling on the government to respect the rule of law and human rights in handling JJ’s matter!
Is this the same JJ who was calling for the President to be killed? Or are we talking about someone else?
Most of the people shouting the loudest for JJ to be treated well and be accorded his Human Rights were quiet when JJ looked straight into the camera and said, “Chi Hakainde, chi shuteni mumutu. Muchite monga nimisteki – muchishute, muchipaye, chife”!
Did these citizens think of the trauma, emotional anguish and the psychological stress that HH, his family and normal Zambians felt while watching that jujuman’s live podcast?
So, are JJ’s rights more important than HH’s? Are JJ’s “rights” more important than those of the Head of State?
Which country or territory can tolerate such behaviour as JJ Banda’s?
We need to be sobber and be at peace with the fact that whatever happens to JJ today, he asked for it. JJ crossed the line.
Can you, for once, imagine that, if JJ’s camp had won the election, where would HH be today? We wouldn’t be far from the truth if we said HH would be dead by now! Right?!
To all those who want to use JJ’s issue to play “village” champions of justice, stop and reflect. Follow your conscience. Deep down in your hearts, you know that JJ crossed the line. Such behaviour is not tolerated in any country, territory or legal jurisdiction on this planet. And neither should it be tolerated in Zambia.
As we advance, let us all, as normal and sincere citizens, condemn the behaviour of JJ and the like; especially to the extent that a citizen can call for the assassination of the Head of State as a means to settle his personal or political party concerns.
In all civility, let’s agree that you may not like someone; you may even hate that person, but the moment that individual takes the oath of office and becomes your Head of State, you owe him respect.
HH will not be president forever; one day someone else will, and even then, we should respect whoever is Head of State.
We need to be sobber and accept that, whatever happens to JJ, he “asked” for it.
TAKE AWAY
When fighting for the human rights of an accused person or suspect, we must also consider the human rights of the accused person’s victims or targets.
The accused person’s or suspect’s human rights are not more important than their victims’ human rights.
Let’s have ORDER in this country.
BLESSINGS
Bilon Kalumbinga, Cand Th.D., M.Th., MSc., M.Th., B.Min.
The author also holds a Certificate in Human Rights Law (University of Edenburg) and a Certificate in Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution (University College of Professional Management, ICOF, UK)