ZAMBIAN PARTIES REJECT GAY RIGHTS

Two leading political parties in Zambia have stated that gay rights have no place in the county because homosexuality is “unchristian”.

According to the Times of Zambia, the ruling party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), and the United Party for National Development (UPND) both came out against LGBT equality last week in seperate statements.

“Zambia is declared a Christian nation and anything that is unchristian and alien to our society is deemed to be an abomination,” Works and Supply minister, and MMD acting spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti said.

A similar position was taken by UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma, who said: “The UPND was part of the NCC [2008’s National Constitutional Conference] deliberations that rejected anything to deal with the homosexuality rights. We equally reject these rights.”

The Patriotic Front (PF), however, refused to comment on the issue, stating that there were more pressing matters to consider in Zambia.

Homosexuality, including lesbianism, is illegal in Zambia, with those found guilty of “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature” or committing “unnatural offences” facing up to 14 years in prison. The Zambian government does not permit the advocacy of LGBT rights.