The Zambia Police Service says officers are looking for the two ladies whose pictures went viral on social media alongside a story purporting that they are in an intimate relationship.

In a statement, Tuesday, Police Spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo asked anyone with relevant information which could lead to the arrest of the two ladies to come forward.

Katongo explained that in Zambia, it was an offence for people of the same sex to engage in an intimate relationship or sexual affair and that anyone found guilty of this offence was liable to imprisonment of not less seven years at minimum.

“There is a picture trending on social media where two girls are reported to have been in an intimate relationship. I wish to state that Police Officers have taken keen interest in the story and pictures circulating in which two girls are reported to have been having an intimate relationship. Officers from Cyber crime unit have instituted investigations in the matter. We therefore call upon people with information that may be helpful in the investigations to report to any nearest Police Station so that perpetrators are brought to book,” Katongo stated.

Katongo described a sexual relationship between two people of the same gender as felonious under the laws of Zambia.

“In Zambia, it is an offence for people of the same sex to engage in an intimate relationship or sexual affair. Section 158 subsection 1 and 2 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia addresses indecent Practices between Persons of same sex. Section 158 (2) states that ‘any female who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with a female child or person, or procures a female child or person to commit any act of gross indecency with her, or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any female person with herself or another female child or person whether in public or private, commits a felony’,” stated Katongo.

“Any person convicted of this offence is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and a maximum sentence of fourteen years. Further, section 155 (a) of the Penal Code under Unnatural Offences, criminalises canal knowledge against the order of nature and anyone found guilty is liable to imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years while the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.”