Event Summary
On 28th July 2025, President Hakainde Hichilema announced the appointment of a new board for the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in accordance with Section 7(1) of the Human Rights Commission Act No. 4 of 2024. The new Chairperson is Dr. Pamela Sambo, a distinguished academic and long-standing human rights advocate, with Dr. Felicity Kalunga appointed as Deputy Chairperson. Other commissioners are Bishop Emmanuel Yona Chikoya, Ms. Panic Malawo Chilufya, Ms. Laura Mary Miti, Father Joe Komakoma, and Mr. Fred Wamundila Waluya. The appointments are pending ratification by the National Assembly. Its outcome will depend on how swiftly Parliament acts and how soon the Commission begins to function under the new leadership.
Three of the appointees are prominent civil society leaders: Bishop Chikoya, Ms. Laura Miti, and Father Komakoma. Bishop Chikoya and Ms. Miti are returning commissioners, having served on the previous board, while Father Komakoma is a new addition. Their continued and fresh perspectives are expected to reinforce the Commission’s independence, accountability, and capacity to act as an internal check on government conduct.
With the Access to Information (ATI) framework under the HRC’s jurisdiction, civil society organizations (CSOs) now have a unique opportunity to assess the law’s effectiveness in practice. The new board’s composition, particularly with strong CSO representation, has raised expectations that the Commission will not only safeguard fundamental rights but also actively promote transparency and responsiveness to citizens’ concerns. This development comes amid heightened public demand for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance. Civil society Organisations have consistently called for a strong, independent, and well-resourced HRC.
This event is not an isolated occurrence, as it is part of a broader pattern of institutional and governance reforms that Zambia has been undertaking, particularly since the enactment of several key laws and regulatory frameworks in the last two years. The Human Rights Commission Act No. 4 of 2024 laid the foundation for this reform, mandating a new structure and leadership for the Commission. This was followed by the historic enactment of the Access to Information (ATI) law in early 2025.
In that context, the appointment of the new board reflects a continuation of reform processes aimed at strengthening state institutions and reinforcing the checks and balances necessary in a democratic system. Similar trends have been observed in the restructuring of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and renewed appointments in the Anti-Corruption Commission.