President Hakainde Hichilema has commended the Commissioners of the Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC-Z) for effectively carrying out their mandate of promoting and protecting human rights during their first term of office.

During the swearing-in ceremony held at State House on Friday, 10th October 2025, the President expressed confidence that the newly appointed Commissioners would continue to perform their duties with integrity, independence, and impartiality.

The President noted that the Commissioners were nominated by various interest groups based on their professional qualifications, experience, and proven commitment to advancing human rights in Zambia.

While congratulating those sworn in, the President stressed the importance of dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect to resolving issues as opposed to public confrontation through “grandstanding and speaking at each other”.

The President noted that it was not easy to serve the nation on such voluntary positions and thanked the Commissioners for accepting the appointments. He also thanked their families for allowing them to serve the nation.

Those sworn in were Dr. Pamela Towela Sambo as Chairperson, Dr. Felicity Kayumba-Kalunga as Vice Chairperson, Bishop Emmanuel Yona Chikoya, Ms. Panic Malawo-Chilufya, Ms. Laura Mary Miti, and Fr. Joseph Komakoma as Commissioners.

The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Commissioners previously served under the repealed Human Rights Commission Act No. 39 of 1996, which has since been replaced by the Human Rights Commission Act No. 4 of 2024.

Their appointments are in line with Section 7 of the new Act, which mandates the President to appoint the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Commissioners on a part-time basis, subject to ratification by the National Assembly.

The swearing-in ceremony followed their ratification by the National Assembly on 1st October 2025, after a rigorous public scrutiny process conducted through the Parliamentary Select Committee on Presidential Appointments.