Luangwa District, 29th October 2025 — The Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC-Z) had an engagement meeting with the community in Kaunga area of Luangwa District and sensitised over 140 residents on their human rights.
Earlier, the HRC-Z team led by Human Rights Advocacy Manager, Mr. Simon Mulumbi, paid a courtesy call on Luangwa District Commissioner, Mr. Luke Chikani, who commended the Commission for its continued human rights awareness campaigns in the rural communities.
Mr. Chikani noted that increased presence of the HRC-Z in the district was critical in addressing various human rights issues affecting the people in the area.
“We needed you like yesterday because human rights are very important. I wish the Commission could establish an office here in Luangwa to effectively handle the various human rights violations that may be taking place in the district,” said Mr. Chikani.
The HRC-Z team also paid a courtesy call on Chief Mpuka of the Chikunda speaking people, who raised human rights concerns arising from the continued occurrence of animal-human conflicts in his chiefdom.
Chief Mpuka expressed great concern that herds of elephants continued to stray into villages and were destroying crops and attacking people, resulting in loss of life in some cases.
During a meeting held at Kaunga Primary School grounds, HRC-Z engaged over 140 residents of Kaunga area and sensitised them on their human rights.
“Human rights are not abstract, they affect how people live and work every day. We want communities to know where to seek help whenever their rights are violated,” explained Mr. Mulumbi.
Later, HRC-Z had an interactive session with learners and teachers at Kapoche Special School, during which the rights and responsibilities of children were highlighted. The school had a total enrolment of 80 learners with various disabilities from early childhood to grade 12 classes who were sensitised on children’s rights during the outreach.
School Headteacher Ms. Elizabeth Nyeleti explained that the school not only provides academic education but also empowers learners with various practical skills, such as gardening and poultry rearing, aimed at helping them become self-reliant when they grow up.
“Our learners are given an opportunity to learn life skills alongside academic education, to ensure they can live meaningful and independent lives,” said Ms. Nyeleti.
As part of the outreach, HRC-Z distributed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to the rights-holders to enhance their understanding of human rights and the mechanism for reporting human rights violations and abuses.
