RAINBOW FURORE

THERE is a raging debate in the country over the decision by two foreign embassies to fly the rainbow flag at their missions in Lusaka which goes against the nation’s Christian beliefs.

Already, there have been calls for the government to summon the ambassadors of the two countries to explain their action.

The debate stems from Tuesday’s decision by the embassies of Sweden and Finland to fly the flag for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) rights alongside their national flags.

The embassies have explained that they were merely observing the human rights of the gay community.

But we do not think that they were being fair to Zambians who have declared their country a Christian nation and simply put, homosexuality is a criminal offence.

It is in this vein that we agree with the Bishops Council of Zambia (BCZ) which has accused the two embassies of abrogating the international relations agreement governing diplomatic relations.

As BCZ spokesperson, Reverend Fred Chingole, pointed out, Zambian laws are against the LGBTQI rights, therefore, those who abrogate them need to be reprimanded.

Rev Chingole said the act by the two governments is a breach of the 1961 Vienna Convention, and a lack of due regard to the laws of Zambia and cultural sensitivity to its people.

He noted that under article 20 of the Vienna Convention, the mission is only allowed to fly the flag and emblem of their country on their premises and on the vehicle.

It is therefore strange that the two embassies chose to hoist the rainbow flag even when they ought to know better what the stance of the Zambian government is.

It is very clear under the 1961 Vienna Convention Guiding Diplomatic Relations that diplomats are mandated to respect the law of the receiving state and it is a serious breach of the convention to break the law of the host country.

The two ambassadors know the channels to use to express their feelings on any subject through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, not by blatantly flying the rainbow flag which is clearly offensive to Zambians’ cultural values.

Whether they flew the flag at their embassies which is said to be their country but they should know that the embassies are in Zambia. They cannot bring their acts in Zambia said Rev Chingole.

Whether they flew the flag at their embassies which is said to be their country but they should know that the embassies are in Zambia. They cannot bring their acts in Zambia.

Diplomats ought realise that much as gay rights are acceptable in their home countries, the same cannot be said of most African countries which regard homosexuality as a crime.

In France, Paris St-Germain’s Idrissa Gueye refused to play in a match to avoid wearing a rainbow symbol in support of LGBTQ+ rights at the weekend.

The PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino said only that Senegalese Gueye missed the game for “personal reasons,” but the French Football Federation has reportedly written to Gueye to clarify why he was absent.

Senegalese President Macky Sall wrote on Twitter that Gueye’s Muslim beliefs must be respected. Homosexuality is illegal in Senegal and punishable by prison sentences of up to five years.

If Zambians do not embrace gay rights, their views must be respected and not forced down their throats.