Zambia: Govt calls for which-hunt against LGBTI community

mambaonline.com:

Zambia says its values must be “defended” from LGBTI people “at any cost” The Zambian government is accused of inciting violence after calling on citizens to “defend” the country against LGBTI people. On Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda, issued a dangerous statement addressing the status of the LGBTI community in Zambia.

In it, Kasanda reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the country’s laws that criminalise homosexuality, seemingly at any cost.

Under Zambia’s colonial-era penal code, those convicted of same-sex sexual activity face sentences of up to life in prison. Kasanda warned that “anyone found practising or promoting any of the said acts is liable to prosecution in the Courts of Law”.

She said citizens must “uphold the moral values and principles of our society in line with the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation.” These values, she insisted, “should, therefore, never be sacrificed at any cost.” Kasanda dismissed suggestions that the government “supports homosexuality” and confirmed that “police and other law enforcement agencies remain active and engaged in pursuing cases of LGBT whenever and wherever they are reported”.