Anti-gay politician sworn in as Zambian president
Anti-gay Zambian defense minister Edgar Lungu was inaugurated today as president of Zambia. By a majority of 48.3 percent to 46.7 percent, he won the Jan. 20 election to fill the remainder of the term of former President Michael Sata, who died in October.
Lungu is a long-time opponent of gay rights. In 2013, as Zambia’s minister of home affairs, he urged the police to investigate a (never-confirmed) report that four same-sex couples tried to register gay marriages in the Zambian capital.
In November, he accused newspaper writers of being gay after they suggested that he drinks too much.
Kenyan activist/journalist Denis Nzioka, in an article entitled “Zambia elects homophobe as President,” commented:
“Lungu’s homophobic past may not go down well with some as he has, in the past, been public – and vocal – on his opposition to homosexuality. Last year, while he campaigned for the Presidency, Lungu warned he will not support gay rights in Zambia. Speaking at a public rally in Mongu, the then Defence Minister said he was not going to compromise human nature because of money.”
Lungu not only refuses to acknowledge the human rights of LGBTI people, but also repeats the widely believed falsehood that homosexuality is an un-African import, created by financial incentives from the West. As Nzioka stated:
“In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lungu said such rights have no place in Zambia and the PF [Patriotic Front] government is not ready to recognize or accept them.
” ‘This is unZambian; it is not part of our culture. I know some money-hungry civil society organisations will fall for the money but we are waiting to see which Zambian will get the money and start championing same sex marriages.’ “
Related articles
- Zambia elects homophobe as President (Denis Nzioka)
- Zambia Defence Minister Lungu wins presidential election (BBC)
- Anti-gay politician undercuts Zambia’s principles (December 2014, 76crimes.com)
- Zambia official seeks probe of same-sex brides, grooms (April 2013, 76crimes.com)
Do we still give hard earned tax euros to this Evil Homophobe?
A real set back for gay-rights in zambia. Hopefully he won’t have time to do too much damage before the elections again next year!