A human rights activist has been arrested in Zambia minutes after he
appeared on live television calling for homosexuality to be
decriminalised.
Gay Pride festival in Soweto, South Africa
Zambia is among the 37 African nations to outlaw homosexuality. Paul
Kasonkomona was being driven from the Muvi TV studio in the capital,
Lusaka, when his car was stopped by police. He was detained overnight at
a local station.
On Monday he was charged with "inciting the
public to take part in indecent activities", police said, and was due to
appear in court imminently.
Officers reportedly tried to stop
Kasonkomona's interview as it was in progress but managers at the TV
station refused to take him off air.
Homosexuality is outlawed in 37 African countries and Zambia is among the more hostile political climates.
Deeply
conservative and religious, 98% of the population disapprove of
homosexual behaviour, according to a 2010 survey. The country inherited
British colonial-era laws, and advocacy groups are banned.
In
South Africa, where gay marriage is legal, a campaign group demanded
Kasonkomona's release in an online petition addressed to the Zambian
president, Michael Sata.
"We further urge your government to
immediately start a process to decriminalise consensual sex between
adults in private irrespective of sexual orientation and gender
identity," Ndifuna Ukwazi said.
"This means repealing the laws introduced by the British colonial administration and codified in the Zambian penal code."
Zambian president Michael Sata, recipient of an online petition calling for Kasonkomona’s release
All
consensual adult same-sex acts are criminalised in Zambia, Ndifuna
Ukwazi noted, adding that offences such as sodomy, or sex between women,
carry a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life.
"Indecent
same-sex practices" – probably a reference to holding hands, kissing
and masturbation between adults or alone – carries a minimum sentence of
seven years and a maximum of 14 years, the group said.
Over
Easter four gay couples attempted to register marriages with authorities
but were rejected. A traditional leader, Chief Madzimawe, was quoted in
the Zambia Daily Mail as saying: "It is not a culture of Zambians,
Africans and Ngonis to practise homosexuality and gay people should be
caged."
The government later said the couples involved should be dealt with by police.
In
2009 a gay couple in Malawi who held a public engagement ceremony were
jailed for 14 years, but subsequently received a presidential pardon.
Uganda's parliament is considering laws that would impose harsher
penalties for homosexual activity.
Last month the EU advertised
financial support to organisations that wanted to promote gays rights in
Zambia. In 2011, Britain and the US warned they would use foreign aid
to push for homosexuality to be decriminalised in Africa.
Source - news.naij.com