Noose tightens around homosexuals

ARTHUR SIMUCHOBA
Correspondent | Friday May 17, 2013 00:00

But the same cannot be said of gays in many African countries like Zambia, for instance, where the noose is tightening around homosexuals.  In the face of perceived pressure from the European Union (EU) to be tolerant of same sex marriages or liaisons, there has been a closing of ranks among anti-gay forces in the country and the African continent in general.  

The government, the church, traditional leaders and other strands of opinion opposed to homosexuality are increasingly moving in tandem to thwart any recognition of gays at a time when gay rights activists have attempted to portray gay recognition as a human rights imperative.  In Zambia gay opponents are legion.

Government has in fact undertaken not to be pressured and the church has denounced it as unchristian.Traditional rulers have said it is not part of African culture. More recently, the government and the Church met to plot a common strategy.

'We have just had a detailed consultative meeting with the church and top on the agenda was the issue of gay rights. The Church made it clear that from the biblical and cultural point of view, societal norms do not recognise homosexuality and the government agrees with this stance,' said Steven Kampyongo, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. He said the Church had advised the government not to fall prey to donors who only rendered financial support to countries that recognise gay rights.

'During the meeting, a representative from the Islamic community said anyone who talks about promoting gay rights is liable to serious punishment under Islamic law,' he revealed.

Attitudes towards gays to harden. Minister of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili, a leading figure in the governing Patriotic Front (PF), said government would stiffen the penalty for homosexuality, which is already a crime in Zambia. He spoke on a recent radio talk-show and was unequivocal, saying the government would help fight and resist 'the vice' with vigour and government would not brook any 'nonsense' in the matter.

'Homosexuality will not prevail in this country. We don't want Zambia's children to be taught any vice. We will not tolerate homosexuality. Those who want to promote homosexuality are wasting their time. If anything, we are planning to stiffen the laws,' he said.The tone was the same from the Moslems. Akidu Yusuf, of the Islamic Council, said any country that tolerates homosexuality only works for its downfall.

Yusufu said if the Western countries want to make aid conditional on tolerance for gays then it is not extended in good faith. 'We say to hell with their money,' he said.

The Human Rights Commission too said it found same sex marriages to be in conflict with the country's traditions and culture as well as Christian values.'It's abnormal and as a country, we cannot accept that,' said the Commission spokesperson Samuel Kasankha. 

Two chiefs Madzimawe from the Eastern Province and Shakumbila from the Central urged government to take a bold decision and arrest gays. 'It is not part of the culture of Zambians or Africans to practise homosexuality and gay people should be caged,' they said.  They pledged to hand over to the police any lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex (LGBTIs) people in their areas.

At the National Constitution Convention (NCC) which is drafting Zambia's  new constitution, reconvened in Lusaka and delegates unanimously called for an amendment to the article on civil and political rights to indicate specifically that 'homosexuality will not be among those rights'.  There seemed no way out for the gays but to return to a peripheral existence in the shadows and what brought the matter to a head were the actions of a shadowy gay group that sought to register not one but four same sex marriages apparently with an eye to the constitutional convention that was due to convene. The idea seemed to provoke debate because the draft constitution still defines marriage as between a man and woman only.

Thus, over the Easter weekend four all male couples - four Caucasians and four Zambians  - approached the Marriages Registry at the Lusaka Civic Centre with the intention of registering their same sex marriages. They were turned away. Police immediately said they would investigate and arrest those involved. Attempts to trace the couples however made little headway as they seem to have used fake names. 

But gays are not without sympathisers. Human rights activist Paul Kasonkomona came out and spoke strongly for recognition of gay rights saying they were part of human rights and Zambia as a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Charter, should recognise them. Police surrounded the studio as he spoke. Kasonkamona was arrested as he left the studio and was denied bond. He remained in custody for 48 hours  when he was charged with incitement to crime.

He was later granted bail and will appear in court at a date yet to be set.