The arrest, trial, year-long detention and recent acquittal of Philip Mubiana and James Mwape on homosexuality charges demonstrate much that’s wrong with Zambia’s legal, political and social life, along with a few strengths, lawyer Anneke Meekotter writes in the Southern Africa Litigation Centre blog. In the article, she discusses: Political statements “bordering on hate speech.” … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Friends of Rainka
Zambia frees 2 allegedly gay men after year in prison
Breaking news from Zambia: Zambia detainees Philip Mubiana and James Mwape were acquitted today of charges of violating the Zambian law against homosexual activity, human rights activists report. They had been in custody since May 5, 2013. They were arrested after family members reported them to police in response to a nationwide appeal to Zambian … Continue reading
Zambian LGBT rights at risk in May 30 verdict
LGBT rights activists are looking forward apprehensively to the end of the trial of two young Zambian men who have been imprisoned for more than a year on homosexuality charges. The outcome of the trial, scheduled to end May 30, not only will determine the future of defendants Philip Mubiana and James Mwape, it may … Continue reading
Attacked by Zambian mob, 2 lesbians must leave home
Two alleged lesbians have been forced out of their home in the Marapodi area of Lusaka, Zambia, an activist leader of the Zambian human rights group Friends of Rainka reported. While walking in their neighborhood on May 2, the women were attacked by a mob of neighbors who accused them of lesbianism and living together … Continue reading
LGBT in Zambia: ‘How many more lives will be ruined?’
In response to the latest court case against alleged homosexuals in Zambia, the leader of the Zambian human rights organization Friends of Rainka has called for an end to persecution of LGBT people. Juliet Mphande, executive director of Friends of Rainka, said: ”The situation for LGBTI persons in Zambia becomes more urgent than ever. How … Continue reading
Zambia: Police raid suspected gays without warrants
Don’t forget Zambia’s oppressed LGBT community, who continue to endure homophobic repression even as Uganda and Nigeria teeter on the verge of adopting their own new repressive laws targeting their LGBT citizens. Zambia has been conducting a harsh anti-gay crackdown since last spring. Four people are facing prosecution for homosexuality. A fifth is on trial … Continue reading
Zambia LGBTs seek liberties of ‘every other citizen’
In a new video, human rights activist Juliet Mphande calls on Zambia to grant LGBT people “the same liberties as every other citizen.” “We have a nation that historically has spoken out against all forms of injustice across the region,” she says in the video, which was created by the South Africa-based LGBT media advocacy … Continue reading
Zambian First Lady seeks dialog; media prefer gay-bashing
Juliet Mphande, director of the Zambian LGBT rights organization Friends of Rainka, sees reasons to be hopeful about the Zambian First Lady’s recent statement that “silence around issues of men who have sex with men should be stopped and no one should be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.” But so far, … Continue reading
Zambian activists reject hazardous, homophobic article
The Zambian LGBT rights organization Friends of Rainka today issued a rebuke, with corrections, of a series of homophobic, potentially violence-inciting inaccuracies contained in a recent article in the online Zambian news site Tumfweko.com. The article was part of a new wave of harassment of LGBT rights activists that has sent some of them into … Continue reading
43 anti-LGBT violations in Zambia; ‘accident waiting to happen’
In the midst of a crackdown on homosexuals, Zambia has been the scene of at least 43 LGBT-related violations of people’s rights in the past six months, according to a new report by the local LGBT activist organization Friends of Rainka. Even worse incidents could occur, the report suggests, because “the situation for LGBTI persons … Continue reading
