20091211

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has warned Zambians against practicing tribalism because it has potential to trigger serious national conflicts, including war.

Speaking at the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, Mr Kunda said Zambians should learn from tragic experiences of other countries that had been thrown into serious conflicts, including war.

The vice-president said in a speech read for him by Justice Deputy Minister, Todd Chilembo some countries even had wars because of intolerance based on tribal or ethnic consideration.

"The Government calls upon all Zambians to embrace their diversity and recognise that diversity is part and parcel of Zambia's democratic dispensation," he said.

It was Government's desire to ensure that tribalism was dealt with because it fell under the broad definition of racial discrimination in terms of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

He said the theme 'Embrace Diversity- End Discrimination' was very important as it focused on ending racial discrimination, gender discrimination, stigma and discrimination against the disabled, prisoners and HIV/AIDS patients.

Mr Kunda said, however, that although racial discrimination was not pronounced in Zambia, the Government was committed to fight it because it hindered people's enjoyment of fundamental freedoms.

He said people should stop HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination because it had an effect of eroding human rights and the rights of the people affected by such violations.

Mr Kunda said the Government was saddened that people in incarceration or detention were subjected to stigma and discrimination by society even after they had been released.

On the discrimination of disabled people, he said society should first eradicate environmental and attitudinal barriers that hindered persons with impairments from effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

He urged all stakeholders to ensure that all children, regardless of their background or socio-economic standing, were afforded the protection of their rights on an equal footing.

Human Rights Commission acting chairperson, Palan Mulonda commended the Government for its continued support to the commission, saying it would continue to ensure that human rights were observed at all times.

Mr Mulonda urged all institutions in Zambia to promote human rights, adding that denial of rights was a serious infringement.

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