GOVERNMENT has urged members of the public to familiarise themselves with the proposals made by the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) to amend some provisions in the Penal Code so that they debate from an informed perspective.

And government says it has no intention to legalise homosexuality in Zambia as the Constitution is clear on the matter.

In a statement, Thursday, Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda stressed that the process to amend the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code had been ongoing for the past 11 years and was not started by the current government.

She added that her government had no hidden agenda to introduce laws which were inimical to the national values and principles.

“Government has noted with concern a deliberate campaign by some people to misinterpret and mislead the public on the proposed amendments to some provisions in the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). It ought to be stressed that the process to amend the Penal Code (PC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) started in 2011 following an outcry from stakeholders in the criminal justice system who observed that some laws were archaic and did not reflect contemporary times. This process has, therefore, been ongoing for the past 11 years and has not been started by the current Government, as insinuated by some sections of society,” she said.

“The UPND Government found this process ongoing and has no hidden agenda to introduce laws that are inimical to the national values and principles. Government further wishes to assure the people of Zambia that it will not depart from the Christian principles as enshrined in the Republican Constitution. Furthermore, members of the public may wish to know that the technical committee appointed to propose amendments to Penal Code (PC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) recommended on Page 44 of the Report that the offence of Bigamy be repealed from the Penal Code to avoid duplicity of offences in the Statute Book as the Statute Book is read as one.”

Kasanda said the new dawn government had not taken a position on polygamy as all that had been done was a recommendation to clear up the Statute Book.

“Therefore, if the offence of Bigamy was repealed under the Penal Code, it would still remain an offence under the Marriage Act. Contrary to speculations among members of the public and stakeholders in general, the New Dawn Government has not taken a position on polygamy in Zambia. All that has been done is a recommendation to clear up the Statute Book. Similarly, Government has no intention to legalise homosexuality as the Constitution is clear on this matter which is outlawed in Zambia. Government wishes to advise members of the public to take a keen interest in and familiarise themselves with the proposals by the Zambia Law Development Commission to amend some provisions in the Penal Code so that they debate from an informed perspective,” said Kasanda.