Freed from prison, gay Zambian endures poverty and scorn to stay with his mom

Human rights activists raise funds to give him a fresh start

The African Human Rights Coalition is seeking donations to help  a gay man get his life back on track after serving three years in Zambian prisons on homosexuality charges.

The ex-prisoner, Stephen Samba (identified as Stephen Sambo in previous coverage of his case) moved in with his aging, ailing mother after his release from prison in 2020. He had been in prison since August 2017, when he was arrested.

“Stephen cannot provide support because no one will give him a job. No one wants to be seen with or aiding a known homosexual [ex-]convict in Zambia,” says Melanie Nathan, executive director of  the African Human Rights  Coalition (AHRC).

The AHRC plan to help him and his mother includes $310.80 in monthly financial support for six months and a $225 computer to allow Stephen to earn money by working remotely.

Nathan explains the situation in this fundraising plea:

Stephen Samba is not Free from Fear and Scrambles to Survive

You may recognize  STEPHEN SAMBA’s name. He was splashed across the Zambian and global news back in 2018 when arrested with his partner in a lodge under accusations of gay sex, with charges that followed, leading to a conviction of 15 years in prison for both men.

The case also led to an uproar and the recall of the U.S. ambassador to Zambia, when he criticized the Zambian government over the conviction and surrounding issues of corruption.

In [2020] on Africa Freedom Day the sentences were commuted by President Edgar Lungu, and Stephen and his partner were freed after serving three years.  It had been a traumatic journey, with forced anal exams, considered torture by the United Nations, and more horrors that Stephen does not want to talk about.

Upon release Stephen’s partner was whisked off by his family and they lost touch.

Stephen’s aging mother who he had been alienated from, agreed at great risk, to accept him home even though he is now exposed as a gay man, bringing ongoing danger to them both.

Stephen contacted me saying that since he attained freedom it feels like death. He has been living the life of a terrified recluse, unable to find employment and in constant fear of his life:

“ For me freedom is deathly. I cannot go out the house because they know me as a gay everywhere in my country. I cannot leave my mother and I cannot support my mother who is sickly. I cannot support myself. I am a grown man who once had a good career. My life is destroyed. There is nothing I can do. I am over. My life must be better to end now.”

He told me that his mother at 84 cannot provide any support. They were hungry. So AHRC sent money for food.

Stephen cannot provide support because no one will give him a job. No one wants to be seen with  or aiding a known homosexual convict in Zambia. Stephen is overcome by fear and hopelessness. He is consumed by the guilt he feels because of the dangers he has visited upon his mother, who has been alienated by everyone in her life because she took her gay son in.

While there are options for Stephen to cross borders to seek UNHCR protection in a foreign country, he says he would rather die than abandon his mother.

As a gay felon, Stephen has no options.  Even if he could get a job, any job will be way too dangerous and his fear of being lynched by a mob will likely be realized.

While we know it is impossible to provide help for all people similarly situated, Stephen’s case has no other solutions. So AHRC is seeking help for Stephen. We want to provide him with monthly support for six months, as well as a computer. His only hope is remote work. He had a good career as an administrator before his arrest. There is no chance to clear his name in a country like Zambia.

Imagine if we lived in a world where governments cared enough to create special viable pathways for people in exceptional circumstances like Stephen and his mother, where they could access asylum in a country where they could be fully protected, free, and able to create a future.

AHRC IS HOPING TO RAISE FUNDS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR STEPHEN AND HIS MUM

See Also

U.S. expands crackdown on Ugandan homophobes seeking visas

Related articles:

Zambian court convicts two men for gay sex (Erasing 76 Crimes, August 2018)

Zambia frees gay couple serving 15-year sentence (Erasing 76 Crimes, May 2020)