By Chinoyi Chipulu
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) says following reports of alleged deteriorating health of former cabinet minister Chishimba Kambwili, Zambia Correctional Service is facilitating medical access to him.
And HRC spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya stated that after visiting Dr Kambwili, the Commission was not privy to any report indicating that his health needs were beyond the capacity of the medical personnel that were attending to him.
In a statement, Muleya stated that the Commission would continue monitoring the situation relating to Dr Kambwili’s health and would only take appropriate action, within its mandate, based on the advice of the medical personnel.
“Following media reports on the alleged deteriorating health of Chishimba Kambwili, the Human Rights Commission visited him at Lusaka Central Correctional Service Facility on August 13, 2025,” he stated.
Muleya stated that the Commission had already visited Kambwili even before PF acting leader Given Lubinda, complained to the Commission about his alleged deteriorating health.
Muleya stated that the findings of the Commission were that Kambwili was brought to the Lusaka Central Correctional Service Facility from Kasama Central Correctional Service Facility on August 5, 2025, in order to attend to some pending court matters in Lusaka.
“The Commission was informed and confirmed that from the time that Dr. Kambwili was brought to Lusaka, he was being kept in the clinic within the Lusaka Central Correctional Service Facility in order to meet his health requirements, such as access to an elevated bed,” he stated.
He stated that the Commission had an opportunity to interact with Kambwili, Correctional Service Officers and medical personnel in order to understand his health situation and recommend appropriate remedial measures, if any, towards upholding his right to health.
He stated that the Commission had an obligation to respect the right to privacy of everyone, including protecting confidential and medical information of any person that may come to its knowledge during its course of duty.
“The public may wish to know that the finding of the Commission was that the Zambia Correctional Service was facilitating medical access to Dr. Kambwili and so far, the Commission was not privy to any report indicating that his health needs were beyond the capacity of the medical personnel that were attending to him,” he stated. “The Commission will continue monitoring the situation relating to Dr. Kambwili’s health and will only take appropriate action, within its mandate, based on the advice of the medical personnel.”
