UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says the party will take legal action on some individuals in the Patriotic Front who are propagating that the opposition party supports gay rights.

On Wednesday, Kanchibiya PF member of parliament Martin Malama moved a private member’s motion seeking parliamentary support to ban political parties and organisations that support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in Zambia, citing the UPND as being one of the supporters of these acts.

But in an interview, Kakoma said the motion was misguided and exposed the PF’s fear of the UPND.

“In fact, we have singled out certain individuals who are propagating those lies! We intend to take legal action against them. I think the process has already started, we have had discussions with our lawyers, they will soon be dancing to the tune in court,” Kakoma warned.

“So, that motion is misguided, it is part of the strategy to throw mud at us! You know, they have been cooking a lot of stories about UPND because they are dead scared about the UPND, dead scared about Hakainde Hichilema! That is the biggest threat to their continued stay in power. So, they will do anything to try to paint us black.”

He insisted that there was no article in the UPND’s constitution that supported gay rights.

“Well, first of all, the UPND does not support gay rights, does not support homosexuality. This was made very clear; in fact, just a few weeks ago, president Hakainde Hichilema held a press conference at which he dealt with this matter. He denied any involvement in the issues of gay rights and homosexuality. He actually doesn’t believe in homosexuality and gay rights. This is just a smear campaign by the PF to try to paint us black! They are just throwing mud at us!” argued Kakoma.