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Zambian homosexuals come out

New African, Nov 1998 by Kunda, Anthony

For the first time in the country's history, the Zambian homosexual community has decided to come out in the open, and form an organisation called Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender Association (LEGATRA) to champion their cause, Anthony Kunda reports.

In what must be a first for Africa - certainly a first for Zambia - the Zambian homosexual community has decided to come out of the closet in the face of much local opposition.

Gershom Musonda, himself not gay, but the coordinator of LEGATRA said Zambian homosexuals have decided to go public, "because of the social pressure, harassment, and discrimination they have been subjected. That's why they now want to fight for their rights as a group."

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Musonda said LEGATRA has already drafted a constitution for the homosexual movement, which will have to undergo police and legal scrutiny, before the organisation can be registered with the registrar of societies.

Francis Chisambisha, who was the first Zambian gay to go public, said: "I now feel free. I have a right to live they way I want to." But Chisambisha has already suffered for going public. One month ago he was expelled from Chisamba Agriculture College solely on grounds of being gay. He has engaged a lawyer to deal with the matter.

Alfred Zulu, who is programme manager for the group, said although few have come out in the open, "we have statistical evidence to the effect that there are over 500,000 homosexuals in Zambia, some of them are senior public figures. But they are too jittery to identify with LEGATRA openly."

Government opposition

But Zambia being a highly homophobic society, there has been widespread revulsion at the formation of LEGATRA, with government leaders saying that the organisation will not be registered.

Legal Affairs Minister, Vincent Malambo, said according to Chapter 88 section 55 of the Laws of Zambia, homosexuality is a criminal offence punishable, upon conviction by a court of law, by a minimum of 14 years imprisonment. For this reason, Malambo said: "I do not think the registrar of societies will be in a position to register an organisation that he knows will engage in criminal activities."

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Peter Machungwa, has been even more intolerant of LEGATRA. He said: "The police are under instructions to arrest any group which approaches the office of the registrar of societies to register a gays and lesbians organisations, because it unlawful."

Herbert Nyendwa, the registrar of societies, is just as dismissive of LEGATRA. Nyendwa said: aI will not register any homosexual grouping, because the law is very clear. I will not even look at their so-called constitution."

But LEGATRA members are undaunted by the prospects of police arrest, harassment, prosecution, and possible imprisonment. Zulu, who is a vociferous human rights activist of many years, said: "We are not afraid. We still go ahead to register. If the registrar of societies gets cold feet, we will take the matter to the high court. In a democracy you must be tolerant of views that are repugnant. Matters of homosexuality must be debated openly."

Predictably, many church groupings have called for the banning of LEGATRA. Father Ignatius Mwebe, secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat, said LEGATRA should not be registered because their activities "would only contribute to the moral decay of the nation. Aside that homosexuality is against our culture. They have no right to propagate such abnormal views."

Musonda said the calls for the banning of the homosexual community are being propelled by the religious right movement. He said a high profile well-wisher has donated Kwacha10m, approximately US$5,000, to the Zambian gay movement.

Musonda and Zulu will soon be travelling to Zimbabwe and South Africa along with two Zambian gay rights activists, Chisambisha and Charles Phiri to acquaint themselves with how gay organisations are run in those countries.

In the event of the registrar of societies adamantly refusing to register LEGATRA, Musonda said LEGATRA will mobilise various human rights organisations, local and international, to agitate for the scrapping of laws against sodomy and related sexual offences. He emphasised that "banning LEGATRA is not a solution. Whether we like it or not, homosexuality is rife in Zambia. The best government can do is to encourage debate on the issue."

Casey Kelso of Amnesty International recently said in Lusaka that his organisation will be ready to help LEGATRA members fight for their rights, and publicise their cause.

Zambian homosexuals come out

New African, Nov 1998 by Kunda, Anthony

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