"ΜΑΥΡΗ" ΑΦΡΙΚΗ 6. ΖΑΜΠΙΑ

Zambia: MMD, UPND reject Gay rights in Zambia
SOME political parties have said they cannot support and champion the legalisation of homosexuality in Zambia because the practice is unChristian and alien to the nation.
The MMD and United Party for National Development (UPND) said separately in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia was declared a Christian nation and the issue of homosexuality had no room in this society.
But the Patriotic Front (PF) said it had not dealt with the matter because it was concentrating on more important issues.
MMD acting spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said the ruling party could not embrace or support the gay rights because the party was founded on Christian norms.
“Zambia is declared a Christian nation and anything that is unChristian and alien to our society is deemed to be an abomination,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Mr Mulongoti, who is Works and Supply minister said the MMD strongly condemned people championing gay rights.
He said supporting anything that was unChristian was outrageous and the MMD would not want to associate itself with such activities.
Mr Mulongoti said there was no political leader from the ruling party who had associated themselves with championing homosexuality.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said his party could not support or talk about the gay rights because it had no room in the country.
Mr Kakoma said the fact that the gay rights were rejected at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was an indication that the UPND was not in support of homosexuality.
“The UPND was part of the NCC deliberations that rejected anything to deal with the homosexuality rights. We equally reject these rights,” he said.
PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said his party would not preoccupy itself with less pressing issues because it was currently more concerned with the welfare of the people.
Mr Lubinda said the PF had not even sat to discuss the matter because the party wanted to concentrate on how best it would find solutions to pressing needs of serving the families in the country.
[Times of Zambia, 5/2010]

Zambia: Church condemns gay activists
SOME church and civil society organisation have condemned donors and political parties that want to champion the exclusion of the Christian Nation clause in the Constitution opting for a secular state that will promote homosexuality and gay rights.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Bishop Paul Mususu said it would be wrong for political parties and non governmental organisations to promote values that were alien to Zambian society for the sake of money.
Bishop Mususu was reacting to reports that some donors were funding some opposition political parties to support a secular State that would promote homosexuality.
“It is not proper for us to get rid of what we have cherished over the years. We shall be sinking so low if we allow things like homosexuality and pornography in the name of freedom of expression,” Bishop Mususu said.
He said Zambia should retain the Christian nation clause in the new constitution but it should not be included as a legal requirement.
“It is not proper for us to get rid of what we have cherished over the years. We shall be sinking so low if we allow things like homosexuality and pornography in the name of freedom of expression,” Bishop Mususu said.
“We should maintain the clause in our preamble so that we do not exclude other religions,” he said.
He said it would be wrong for organisations to champion immorality just because donors are funding them.
“In fact, civil society organisations should promote our culture as a country and strengthen our values. We must not support wrong things just because we are getting a dollar or people are supporting our project,” he said.
And the Independent Churches of Zambia board Chairperson Reverend David Masupa said political parties that would receive the funds to promote the Secular state would be de-campaigning themselves.
“There is no way the opposition political parties will be using the secular clause to campaign. Christians are in the majority and they will just be de-campaigning themselves,” he said.
Rev Masupa said the National Constitutional Conference unanimously adopted the Christian nation clause and that it would be wrong for some organisation to reverse the decision.
He said it is commonplace for countries to adopt a religion in the constitution. He said Zambia is predominately a Christian nation.
[Times of Zambia, 5/2010]