The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has dismissed the unfounded social media reports alleging that the commission has not been responsive to the case of Francis Kapwepwe, popularly known as “Why Me”, who is undergoing trial for an alleged offence of hate speech.

This was made available in a statement issued to ZANIS today by the Commission’s Spokesperson, Mweelwa Muleya who stated that the commission acquitted itself to the full extent of its mandate in the case of the 29-year-old Tiktok troll.

Mr Muleya stated that from the time he was arrested and detained on 19th April 2024 by the Zambia Police Service at Kabwata Police Station the commission visited him.

“Shortly after the said tiktoker was moved to Livingstone Central Police Station where the complaint of the alleged offence of hate speech was lodged, the Commission visited “Why Me”. He said.

Mr Muleya explained that the commission later engaged the Zambia Police Service to consider granting him bond pending appearance in court in accordance with his right to liberty.

He said this is enshrined under the Zambian Constitution in Article 13 which was read together with Section 33 of the Criminal Procedure Code, plus Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mr Muleya further noted that the Police agreed to grant the suspect bond on condition that he provided sureties and the Commission contacted his Legal Counsel and urged him to facilitate sureties for his client, but to no avail.

He added that when the Commission noted that there was excessive delay in providing sureties to secure “Why Me’s” bond, the commission then had to engage the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to expedite his docket so that he could appear before the courts of law and possibly be granted bail.

Mr Muleya however, stated that in accordance with the commission’s mandate of visiting detention as well as correctional facilities to assess the human rights situation of individuals in custody, the Commission has been visiting “Why Me” saying the latest visit was on 31st December 2024.

“During the visit, the Commission neither received nor observed any complaint of human rights violation or abuse against him,” he noted.

Mr Muleya added that both the Correctional Service Officers and “Why Me” confirmed that he was being visited by his friends as well as other well-wishers.

He noted that the officers also confirmed that some individuals were not granted access to see “Why Me” because they had gone to visit him past visiting hours after 16:00 hours, which is the official lockdown.

Mr Muleya said the Commission has since urged the members of the public as well as other stakeholders that, like any other suspect or accused person, the commission has continued to monitor the case of “Why Me”.

He said this is in order to ensure that his right to secure the protection of the law is upheld in accordance with the laws of Zambia.