Zambia: Church and politicians ramp up anti-LGBTQ+ panic

mambaonline.com:

Anold Mulaisho is a gay refugee from Zambia Politicians and religious leaders in Zambia are fuelling dangerous homophobic hysteria that’s seen at least one man sentenced to prison and growing fears that the country is not safe for LGBTQ+ people. In the wake of the recent alarming statement by the Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda, calling for an LGBTIQ+ witch-hunt, another Zambian minister had voiced his condemnation of LGBTQ+ people.

The Lusaka Times reported last week that the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Jack Mwimbu, told members of parliament that “the government stands firm that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) practice is illegal in Zambia.” He revealed that since the 1st of January, the Zambia Police Service has so far recorded 18 cases of “sodomy” across the country.

Fourteen of these cases have led to arrests, with one individual being convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison with hard labour.

The rest of the cases are still being investigated. Under Zambia’s colonial-era penal code, those convicted of same-sex sexual activity face sentences of up to life in prison.