LUSAKA, 29th January, 2019 – The Human Rights Commission (HRC) says Police were responsible for the death of Vespers Shimuzila, the University of Zambia (UNZA) student killed in last year’s riots at the institution.

And the commission reveals there was relative calm from protesting students at the time police drove into the campus and started throwing suspected hand-held grenades and teargas canisters in the hostels.

This is according to a statement of an independent investigation issued by the commission’s Chairperson, Mudford Mwandenga on the student’s unrest that took place on 4th to 5th October, 2018 at UNZA.

Mwandenga reports that medical experts confirmed Shimuzhila died of “suffocation due to carbon monoxide” poisoning resulting from Police using excessive force on unarmed students.

The commission has since advised the family of the late student to institute legal proceedings against the State and police officers involved in the operation that led to her death and damage to property.

This is in addition to extending medical services to all injured students, including compensating Everntyn Choongo, the student has been left paralysed after she jumped off the building to escape the inferno.