Number 16 April/May, 2000 |
What's in the News?the LRF Newsletter |
LRF opens centre in Livingstone
Officiating at the launch of the Livingstone LRF Centre on April 29, Mr Siasindu said the centre had come at the right time when government was facing difficulties in meeting human rights standards. “The government on its part has demonstrated its political will by introducing human rights courses at Lilayi Police Training School as documented in its good governance programme,” he said. But Mr Siasindu believes that the rule of law thrives best in an environment where ordinary people are empowered and are conversant with the basic operations of the government. He however, added that the government is committed to promoting human rights bodies such as the Human Rights Commission, and introducing good governance. He supported the work done by the non-governmental; organisations (NGOs), in contributing and assisting the state to respond to the views of the governed. He appealed to the people of Southern Province to take advantage of the establishment to solve their legal problems. Speaking at the same function vice chairman of the LRF, John Sangwa, said the centre would provide legal aid and resolve legal disputes to victims of human rights violations. He further said the centre is borne out of the realization that not everybody can afford to get a lawyer. “The center has been initiated to cut expenses of clients from Livingstone who spent a lot of money sending letters to Lusaka, seeking legal advice,” he said. He hoped for more centers to be opened in other towns because of the advantage offered by the LRF in offering free legal aid to Zambian citizens. Mr Siasindu disclosed that the Livingstone Legal Advice Centre is the second center to be opened outside Lusaka. And Pastor Banda, a promoter of human rights who has been operating in Livingstone for many years who gave a vote of thanks welcomed the foundation. He observed that the availability of legal advisers in the town is a privilege to the residents because people are far from knowing their rights therefore the cooperation and existence of various organisations of the same interest will be of great help. “Each person has rights and it is the duty and concern of an individual to participate in promoting human rights because it is biblical,” he said. He cautioned the residents to make good use of the help offered by the center. Chewe Chilufya, a pupil at Hillcrest High School in Livingstone, urged the Foundation to publish the newsletter in the local language of Livingstone to cater for residents who can not read English. Robert Mukengami, local coordinator of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, has appealed to the Foundation to consider the residents in the rural areas. “A lot of people are still unaware of their rights,” he said. Mukengami congratulated the LRF initiative and hoped that they would cooperate with other promoters of human rights to promote awareness in Zambia.
| Front page | LRF opens centre in Livingstone | Letters to the Editor | Need to protect ZAmbian women & girls | Corporal Punishment still alive | Seven years of service, the LRF story | Mobile courts suggested | Children in crises offered helping hand | Around the centres | Know your rights | Government sued over Police mistake | Police clump down on brothels | Public health & you |
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ivingstone
District Administrator Mr Siasindu has welcomed the initiative by the
Legal Resources Foundation, to promote human rights through the provision
of free legal aid to the needy.