Commissioners of the Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC-Z) are participating in an induction to enhance implementation of the Commission’s oversight mandate under the Access to Information (ATI) Act, No. 24 of 2023.

The induction, taking place at Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere in Lusaka from 28th to 29th July 2026, is being facilitated by experts from the Judiciary and the Ministry of Information and Media.

Speaking during the official opening, HRC-Z Chairperson Dr. Pamela Towela Sambo said the induction would equip Commissioners with practical skills in judicial reasoning, evaluation of evidence, judicial ethics, decision-making, and judgment writing, which are essential in hearing and determing access to information appeals.

“We are honoured and privileged to benefit from the experience of the Honourable Judges from the Judiciary,” Dr. Sambo said.

She emphasised that access to information is not merely an administrative process but a fundamental human right that enables citizens to participate meaningfully in democratic governance.

The ATI Act designates the Commission as the independent oversight institution mandated to hear and determine appeals against decisions of information holders, monitor implementation of the Act, provide guidance to information holders, and conduct capacity building for both information holders and information requesters.

“It is, therefore, a legitimate expectation that the Commission must exercise its responsibilities with sound legal knowledge, fairness, independence, impartiality, and professionalism,” she said.

The induction follows an institutional capacity assessment conducted earlier in the year with support from the GIZ country office in Zambia.