On Wednesday last week, the Lusaka High Court sentenced a Kapiri Mposhi gay couple to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for unnatural acts, or for having carnal knowledge of each other “against the order of nature”.
We didn’t find this strikingly alarming because, firstly; we know that practicing homosexuality in Zambia is a jailable offence and 15 years is not beyond the prescribed imprisonment for this particular crime. Secondly, this is not the first gay couple to be found guilty and sentenced for this crime.
But when American Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote issued his statement which was practically condemning this judgment, something caught our attention. Of course, we felt his message was a little too strong from a diplomat, but nevertheless, we embraced it in the spirit of freedom of speech.
Ambassador Foote was merely expressing his opinion and rendering advice. An opinion is simply what someone thinks about on a given matter, and you don’t have to agree. Advice is also just that; one can choose to take it or leave it. No matter how bad an opinion may be, we should try as citizens to search for something positive in it.
The advice that Zambia must do away with outdated laws that deal with minority rights, may have been put in a tone that probably strays from the common subtle diplomacy, but it must be not be rubbished without reason. Instead, it must be understood in the context of the examples that the American envoy gives about applying the law with hypocrisy and double standards.
Ambassador FOOTE: “I understand that Zambia is a Christian nation. I also understand that the Republic’s constitution was written to protect all citizens. To paraphrase the Bible: ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.’ I was personally horrified to read yesterday about the sentencing of two men, who had a consensual relationship, which hurt absolutely no one, to 15 YEARS imprisonment for ‘crimes against the order of nature’. Meanwhile, government officials can steal millions of public dollars without prosecution, political cadres can beat innocent citizens for expressing their opinions with no consequences, or poachers/traffickers can kill numerous elephants, barbarically chainsaw and sell their tusks, and face a maximum of only five years imprisonment in Zambia.”
Zambians have never been united on social media as they were on condemning this statement from the American diplomat. And this is what shocked us more than anything else on this case. How can a citizenry be this unanimously blinded to what is truly destroying their society?
When a government official is arrested or jailed for theft, public views are divided according to political party inclinations, when protesters are stabbed with metal instruments in the head by known cadres, only a few find time to condemn such barbaric acts. But when the American Envoy says the gay couple did no harm to your economy, citizens of all political affiliation have united to condemn the diplomat.
This is why our country will remain oppressed by economic saboteurs because citizens tolerate rubbish and worship criminals. We are too preoccupied with petty nonsense, leaving the real debates, that can change the course of this country, in the hands of the courageous few.
The argument in this case is; how do you sentence a gay couple to 15 years, for an offence which does nothing more than causing public disgust, and sentence a plunderer of national resources to three years? How do you cheer the sentencing of a gay couple to 15 years imprisonment yet you were quiet when a convicted ex-minister was pardoned after serving a fraction of his prison term for stealing public funds? This is hypocrisy.
Yes, we agree with Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji who says this is Zambia, not America; and Zambian laws must be applied and court judgments must be respected. But are laws followed in Zambia? Are court judgments respected? This, in our view is what the American Envoy is trying to show us. He is basically telling us to wake up and first deal with the crimes that are sabotaging our economic autonomy.
Anyway, it is now our duty to inform the American Envoy that Zambia is far from recognising human rights that defend the interests of homosexuals, lesbians, transgenders and other such minority groups. Like he rightly put it, this is more because of hypocrisy and double standards than moral uprightness.
In fact, it is easier to organize a demonstration against gay rights than it is to organize a peaceful demonstration against the 20 hours load—shedding that has shut down people’s businesses. In Zambia, proof that the President is gay can make him lose power, but he can’t be voted out even if he admitted that he is a thief. It’s not the laws which are outdated, it is our thinking.
10 responses
The political and social life in Zambia is so painfully and irritatingly toxic, especially to an intellectual mind. I have tried to balance my act to try to correct things by voting, supporting everything and everyone that i view as progressive. The American ambassadors case is just one root ma y of the wrong things that permeate this society. Archaic laws that don’t serve anybody, surely only a naive and stupid citizenry will continue to embellish this status quo. My opinion.
But comparing slavery to the question of the rights of homosexuals does not seem appropriate.
We know, issues of corruption and others can easily be dealt with when a new govt comes into power, but if the issue of homosexuality is accepted or respected now then our families are destroyed for good . Who will come and reverse it? Not even the new govt . The white man’s project to destroy African families through such acts by deminishing African Population so that finally they csn have access to minerals is the underlaying factor of this EVIL called homosexuality. And its not even political matter to start taking partsan lines its about our existence as Africans
Homosexuality shall never have a headway in country no matter what, We shall surely pay with our own blood if need be
If you are a Gay just come out than saying it indirect, but warned that not here in our beautiful country ZAMBIA
The stupid notion of the so called developed nations is to believe that any nonsensical things they believe in we should. We are are a people of God creation made in his image and likeness. We don’t need the so called developed to subscribe to . This nonsense should come to an end. Briny out the history of the black race before your so called dark ages and you will be in shame. You hypocrites.
Very well put. There’s too much hatred in this country. Why should people hate gays just because they are different? Some of us are straight but we support rights for every Zambian regardless of sexual preferences. We are all supposed to be equally protected by the law. This kind of segregation should come to an end.
Christianity was brought to Africa by the west just like the promotion of gay rights and other freedoms in most constitutions. The major problem with most citizens is illiteracy even among the formally schooled. Let us distinguish what is important from the less important. How many people are gays? The number is insignificant. How do they affect the economy? How do they affect your own life? What about thives who steal, plunder national resources? What about the justice system that is tolerant to the looters? Ask yourself which of these affects the masses. Therefore, let us be concerned with issues that affect our livelihoods. Those people like gays even those that have sex with animals or with-self (just like Jesus said about the poor) will always be there no matter what laws you put. Put more effort to deal with people stealing from you because they deprive you of what you should have.
These guys want to sell their values to us through the so called aid, better to stick to our values than sell it with a piece of cake.
This is the beginning of the famous 666 the Antichrist when those who refuse to accept sin will be denied food and they will be stopped to buy or sell mark these words the movement is on.
gay rights are not to be entertained. lest we bring Gods judgement .in full. we must defend and turn to christ. honestly speaking what kind of future do want to live our future generations to come. our identity is the peace that comes from God not man, dont think for second that God cant withdraw his peace that we are enjoying today. I speak to all zambians to start to stand against evils like such and such. Do you think that machines will work on their own , they need a humanbeing to operate them and if we embrace such evils we are killing the future leaders, i call on all well meaning to begin passing on Godly teachings , even the bible says train up a child in the way he should go when he grows up he will not depart from it. Zambia lets work hard , youths know your God given vision. lets stan
d against evils that come to kill , steal and destroy etc