THE Human Rights Commission says it is actively monitoring the exercise of political and civil rights ahead of the August elections. According to the Commission, it remains committed to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to personal liberty and a fair hearing. This assurance comes in the wake of the arrest and detention of former intelligence chief Xavier Chungu, whose matter is now before the courts. The Commission says because the matter is active before the courts, and because Section 22 of the Human Rights Commission Act restricts it from dealing with matters before a competent court, it cannot comment on the specifics. Fair enough. Institutions must respect the law. But this explanation raises a bigger and...