Chapter One Foundation Press Release dated Saturday 23rd May 2020 in Celebration Africa Freedom DAY

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By Linda Kasonde

Executive Director

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-kasonde-4025a08/

No. 1 of Plot 6941

Suez Road, Cathedral Hill (Next to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross)

P.O. Box 51378 Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: +260 211 257001
Email: linda.kasonde@cof.org.zm

PRESS RELEASE DATED 23RD MAY 2020 IN CELEBRATION OF AFRICA FREEDOM DAY DATED

CHAPTER One Foundation promotes and protects human rights, human rights defenders, constitutionalism, social justice and the rule of law in Zambia, primarily through strategic litigation, advocacy and capacity building.

Our aim is to promote and protect the Constitution and the rights included in it and by so doing, free the space for Zambians to fully participate in the democratic governance of the country.

We recognize that the hard fought economic and political freedom that our forebearers achieved for the Continent should be enhanced and not squandered.

Africa Freedom Day is celebrated annually on the 25th of May. Celebrated across the African Continent, Africa Freedom Day was initially created, “to mark each year the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolise the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”

Following the liberation of the majority of African States in 1963, the day was renamed Africa day and commemorates the foundation of the African Union.

Each year the African Union sets a theme for Africa Day in an effort to promote continent-wide reforms as a means to accelerate sustainable development in the region.

This year’s theme is “Silencing the guns” which aims to achieve a “conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations, and humanitarian disasters”.

Peace and security are necessary components to the foundation of any society as they have an effect on all aspects of economic and social development in a country.

Though the 21st-century African conflicts are mostly concentrated in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Central African region, eastern Congo, the Horn of Africa, Sudan, South Sudan and Libya; the remaining peaceful African states have obligations to maintain peace and prevent the circulation of illegal weapons in their countries to support the continent-wide efforts to promote and sustain peace.

The United Nations has identified that the nature of violent conflicts has changed dramatically in recent decades. Violent conflicts have evolved from inter-state wars to intra-state conflicts and various forms of violence involving non-state actors, such as armed groups, rebels, gangs and organized crime.

Chapter One Foundation believes that the prevention of conflict requires effective conflict prevention that includes diverse policies and legislative frameworks that encourage dialogue and engagement at country level as well as dialogue on contentious issues between countries, specifically those bordering States in conflict. This can only be achieved where national systems foster a culture of dialogue.

Though Zambia continues to maintain its place in the top 5 most peaceful African countries with low levels of civil conflict and gun violence, the recent increase in crime and election violence following the increase in cadreism highlights the need for the state to improve their efforts in maintaining national peace and address the social and economic factors that may lead to civil strife.

Chapter One Foundation calls on the government to develop and implement national policies and laws that address the root causes of the slow increase in civil unrest, most of which are social factors such as high youth unemployment and increased political tensions.

To maintain peace, we need to implement inclusive multi-sectoral policies that will address the economic, social, and environmental causes of civil fragility.

In addition to these measures, Chapter One Foundation would like to call on the government to further strengthen governance and other oversight institutions as they play an important role in maintaining the rule of law which is important for maintaining peace.

Chapter One Foundation commends the people of Zambia, the government and other stakeholders that have contributed towards Zambia being the beacon of peace so far.

We urge all stakeholders to reject attempts designed to undermine the values that make this country great. One Zambia, One Nation.

Chapter One Foundation