POLICE SUMMON LGBT PROTEST ORGANISERS

POLICE have summoned Sistah Sistah Foundation Zambia the organisers of the LGBT protest which was held in Lusaka recently.

Zambia Police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said the organisation applied for a permit to hold a Marchpast within Lusaka District to raise awareness against women and girls sexual and Gender Based Violence.

He said the application was made on February 22, 2023 and the march- past was slated for March 4, 2023 at the Rugby Club in the Show Grounds.

Mr Mwale said the permit was granted considering that issues of sexual and GBV were on the increase as detected by the Police Victim Support Unit.

He said as such, this was deemed to be a noble cause by the Police. In the same vain, the same request was made to the Lusaka City Council and the Sistah Sistah Foundation were given a go-ahead.

“It has, however, come to the attention of the Zambia Police Service that during the said March-past, conveners exhibited a different agenda from the one whose permit they sort for. The agenda seemed to have highlighted issues of LGBTQ (Homosexuality),” he said. Mr Mwale said according to the laws of Zambia, practicing homosexuality is a crime punishable by law. Sections 155 and 157 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia criminalise same-sex conduct between consenting adults. In addition, Zambia is a Christian nation and government does not champion homosexuality.

Members of the public are therefore, warned that they should not flout the law deliberately by taking advantage of the prevailing environment that allows for freedom of expression and assembly,” he said.