12/05/2026
REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF SYLVESTER KATONTOKA
27 November 1968 – 5 May 2026
OBITUARY
By Bruce Chooma
Sylvester Katontoka was the founder of Mental Health Users Network of Zambia (MHUNZA). He worked in a variety of fields until 1996 when he was diagnosed with depression. He was treated for his condition at Chainama Hills Hospital. This encounter with mental health services made him acutely aware of the challenges faced by people with mental health problems and encouraged him to take action.
His organization formed support groups for mental health users and begun to engage in spirited advocacy for legal and other reforms to improve the human rights situation of persons with psychosocial disabilities.
Sylvester meant different things to different people, touching the young, the old, the elite and cutting across all social divides. He was a man who wore many hats yet led a simple life, calm but razor sharp in his analysis and passion for justice and rights.
His demise not only robbed Zambia of a strong advocacy voice for persons with disabilities, especially those with psychosocial disabilities but the regional and global community of human rights defenders and activists.
He made it his mission to contribute to ending stigma and tackle discrimination and enhance the protecting and promotion of human rights for persons with psychosocial disabilities.
In 2008 he was chosen by Swiss Foundation for World Health in collaboration with World Health Organization ( W.H.O) for a Laurate award for “outstanding achievement in the field of mental health activism. Attained understanding in the mental health sector, from treatment, care and support to issues of human rights.”
In 2014 December he was awarded Goodwill Ambassador Status for his contribution and leadership in the promotion of disability mainstreaming issues in Zambia by Hon. Emerine Kabanshi, M.P Minister of Community Development Mother and Child Health.
At the time of his demise, he was serving as chairperson of the Mental Health Council, a regulatory body established by the Mental Health Act 2019. He was also appointed to the Board of the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities where he was elected as chairperson.
He also served at the Africa regional level on the Board of the Pan African Network of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities (PANPPD).
PANPPD Board Chairperson Rose UMUTESI had the following message:
“I extend our deepest condolences on the passing of our beloved Board Member, Ambassador Sylvester Katontoka.
Although we are unable to be physically present during this difficult time, our thoughts, prayers, and solidarity are with the family, friends, colleagues, and the entire disability movement mourning this great loss.
Ambassador Katontoka was a dedicated leader, a passionate advocate, and a committed servant to the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities across Africa. His contribution to PANPPD and the broader human rights movement will always be remembered with great respect and gratitude.’
Sylvester obtained an International Diploma in Mental Health Law and Human Rights from the Indian Law Society (ILS) in Pune, India and studied Social Work at the University of Zambia. He later also studied Mental Health Social Work at Chainama Hills Training College in Lusaka.
In 2003 he attended a training in Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation by the World Health Organization in Geneva –Switzerland. He also attended an Expert Seminar on Freedom from torture, cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and persons with disabilities. Geneva, Switzerland.
Katontoka spoke at international conferences on mental health issues including summits organized by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) in Australia and many other conferences organized by World Health Organization (WHO), where his contributions resulted in the creation of a new mental health law program founded by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Indian Law Society delivered in India where he was a faculty member, delivering a lecture on human rights of users of mental health.
Sylvester was a prominent delegate at the World Congress of Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Athens, Greece. He also attended a training course in the Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities in Bangkok in Thailand.
In addition to this experience, he had co-authored many written works in the area of mental health including an article in the Lancent of September 2007 on Users’ Network for Africans with mental disorders. Other works include published articles in The Mental Health and Development: Targeting people with mental health as a vulnerable group (2010) and World Report on Disability (2011) by World Health Organization and The World Bank. The WHO Quality Rights Toolkit for mental health published in 2012.
It was under his leadership that Zambia published a detailed research publication titled ‘Mental Health and Human Rights in Zambia in 2014 with technical support of the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre (MDAC) now called Validity Foundation based in Budapest Hungary.
Steven Allen, Executive Director of Validity Foundation described Sylvester as nothing less than a light of freedom and a true trailblazer.
“I cannot imagine the world without him. I am a better person for learning from him, and I am deeply grateful for having had that opportunity. May his teachings and kindness live on in all of us whose lives he changed, for the better.”
Beatrice Mutale, wrote on behalf of the disability community:
‘The entire disability movement in mourning a gallant soldier — a passionate disability rights activist, a dedicated leader, and a vocal, fearless advocate for inclusion and justice. His unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will forever remain a mark of his remarkable legacy.
His passing has left us devastated and struggling to come to terms with this painful loss. We will always remember him for his dedication, courage, and tireless service. As an active and committed member of national persons with disabilities forum, he worked selflessly to uplift others and strengthen the disability movement across the country.
Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who were touched by his life and work.’
Sylvester did not shy away from using strategic litigation as an advocacy tool. In February 2017, three people brought a Petition to the Zambia High Court, challenging the constitutionality of the outdated “Mental Disorders” Act.
The 1st Petitioner was Mr Gordon Madox Mwewa, a gospel musician and songwriter. The 2nd Petitioner was Mr Mulima Santa Kasote, a graphic designer and psycho-social counsellor. The 3rd Petitioner was Mr Sylvester Katontoka, the Executive Director and founder of the Mental Health Users Network of Zambia (MHUNZA). Mr Katontoka brought the case on his own behalf and on behalf of all persons with psychosocial disabilities.
All three Petitioners are persons were psychosocial disabilities who have experienced the impact of the “Mental Disorders” Act.
The Petitioners challenged the “Mental Disorders” Act on the basis that it allowed for an outdated and oppressive system of treatment and care for persons with psychosocial disabilities, that it violated their human rights to dignity, equality, non-discrimination, freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, to personal liberty, to protection from deprivation of property, and to constitutional protection of the law.
They further argued that It was unconstitutional and was therefore invalid and that had been effectively repealed by the 2012 Persons with Disabilities Act.
On 9 October 2017, the High Court delivered a judgment declaring a provision of the “Mental Disorders” Act unconstitutional and invalid. The Court criticised the Act on human rights grounds.
The Court declined to grant some of the orders sought by the Petitioners mainly for procedural reasons: The Court reasoned that considering the socio-economic implications and questions of separation of powers, it did not have the power to overturn the Mental Disorders Act in entirety – this is the role of other arms of the Government. But the Court stressed the importance of the need of the Zambian government to thoroughly review the “Mental Disorders” Act:
“[The issues] ignite the need for a thorough review of the Mental Disorders Act, which the authorities should seriously consider.”
Following this court case, Zambia repealed and replaced the Mental Disorders Act with the Mental Health Act 2019 which aligned with the court decision and remarkable attempts to comply with the CRPD.
Sylvester was passionate about legal capacity and went ahead with his colleague at Disability Rights to challenge Section 4 of the Mental Health Act conflates legal capacity and mental capacity.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold an earlier decision by the High Court, Sylvester and Waliuya from MHUNZA and Disability Rights Watch respectively working with Validity Foundation submitted Communication No.878/25 to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to the African Commission on this matter. They requested the Commission to find that Zambia’s current laws, as well as the legal and judicial practices prevailing both before and after the enactment of such laws, amount to violations of the State’s international human rights obligations and to recommend that the State take steps to bring its laws and practices into compliance. At the time of his demise the government had already been served the communication.
