LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH HATE SPEECH NEEDED

By Lumbiwe Mwanza

ZAMBIA cannot be talking about regional integration with other African countries yet 59 years after independence, its citizens still segregate one another based on ethnic groupings, Continental Leadership Research Institute Executive Director Paul Hakoola has said.

Recently, Patriotic Front (PF) Member of the Central Committee (MCC) Chishimba Kambwili was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment with hard labour for using hate speech, expressing hatred and ridicule to the people of Southern Province based on tribe and place of origin.

And speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Hakoola said that for Zambia to confidently talk about regional integration of the African continent, its citizens, especially politicians, should first embrace the idea of local integration.

He said that politicians should lead good examples and not be the ones that perpetrate division in the country through passing hateful sentiment against some ethnic groupings.

He said that it is high time that Zambia developed a specific legislation that could effectively deal with any form of ethnic talks with potential to advance divisions in the country.

“We are not going to mature as a country if, to date, we cannot stop ethnic talks that have potential to create conflicts and wars if not well managed. The Government should put up a plan or formulate laws that specifically deter hate speech or ethnic talk. There should be a black and white policy deliberately aimed at deterring would-be offenders.

“When left unchecked, expressions of hatred could harm societies, peace and development, as it lays the ground for conflict, tension and human rights violations, including atrocious crimes. Addressing and countering hate speech is, therefore, a necessity,” Mr. Hakoola said.

He explained that throughout history, hate speech had served to indoctrinate people and incite them to the worst types of crime, giving an example of the genocide against the Tutsi as well as the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya in Myanmar as among the many examples where hate speech and propaganda systematically dehumanized people and prepared the ground for the most horrific of crimes.

He emphasized that it is incumbent on all citizens to build the defense of peace in their minds in a bid to create a more inclusive environment that accelerates socio economic development.