Legitimate Voices From Zambia's LGBTI Community

Friends of RAINKA Zambia welcome UK's Position on Aid to countries that violate Human Rights

2011-11-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

Lusaka - 22 November 2011

The move by UK International Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell MP. to clarify wide spread media speculation that the UK intended to cut Aid to countries that violate LGBTI rights has been welcomed by Friends of RAINKA.

The British Minister made the statement in response to a statement signed by over 100 African social justice activists, criticising the UK's reported new aid policy that was presented to him by Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights lobby group, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, during a meeting at the headquarters of the UK Department for International Development in London on Monday 21 November 2011.

Mr Mitchell said at the meeting that his government's aid policy had been "misrepresented by some media".

He added that the UK government has not threatened to cut aid but has said it would "channel it in new directions" if recipient governments failed to meet four requirements: reduce poverty, adhere to human rights, demonstrate good financial management and show accountability to their citizens.

In the case of countries that violate human rights, Britain is, he said, committed to maintain aid but divert it from abusive central governments to good practice NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and local government bodies, as it has done in Malawi. There would be no net reduction in aid, he pledged.

Contrary to media reports, Mr Mitchell confirmed that this aid conditionality was never primarily based on a recipient government's respect for LGBTI rights. Human rights adherence is one of the four pillars of UK aid conditionality and LGBTI rights is just one dimension of respect for human rights, he said.

Commenting on the International Development Minister's clarifications, Peter Tatchell said:"The commitment of the UK government to global human rights, including LGBTI rights, is welcome and commendable. I am pleased to hear that no cuts in aid are planned.

"Although human rights abuses are unacceptable and violate international humanitarian law, any reduction in aid would penalise the poorest, most vulnerable people in developing countries. Many are dependent on aid for basic needs like food, clean water, health care and education. They should not be made to suffer because of human rights abuses by their governments.

"I look forward to Andrew Mitchell and David Cameron making high profile public statements in the coming weeks to refute the misreporting of government aid policy and to counteract the negative anti-LGBTI backlash that this misreporting has generated in some African countries.

"Perceptions are important. It is very damaging to LGBTI communities in developing countries if cuts in vital aid are associated with LGBTI people and western demands for LGBTI equality. This inflames homophobia," noted Mr Tatchell.

On 2 November 2011,Chief government spokesperson Given Lubinda said that Zambia will not enact pro-homosexuality laws in a bid to get British aid. Mr. Lubinda said the country would only enact laws supported by its citizens and in line with the Zambian culture.

“David Cameron must be reminded of what we agreed when we met in Paris for the Paris Declaration. Cameron was there, I was there,” said Mr Lubinda, an opposition parliamentarian at the time the Paris Declaration was penned.

He added: “When we met in Ghana, we came up with the Accra Agenda for Action and both those declarations are that no country will use its aid to influence the policies of an aid receiving country.”

He said Zambia was a sovereign nation and would make independent decisions on which laws to enact.“It is wrong for Mr Cameron to try and use aid as a way of influencing policies and laws of Zambia or any other country for that matter,” said Mr Lubinda.

“Zambia will not be pressured to formulate laws or policies by any foreign government,” Mr Lubinda told Lusaka-based Hot FM Radio.

Earlier this month, Zambian President Michael Sata named a 20-member technical committee to draft a new Republican Constitution and emphasised the need for the experts to consult widely as they formulate the important national document.

The committee is expected to draft a national Constitution that would guarantee
peace, national unity and integrity of the Republic in order to safeguard the well-being of the people of Zambia.

According to the terms of reference of the committee, it is expected that the draft Constitution of Zambia Bill 2012 will be tabled to Parliament in 2012.

Friends of RAINKA is optimistic that the Patriotic Front Government will deliver a constitution that will stand the test of time, one that will view human rights as indivisible as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Zambia is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and its two Optional Protocols which it ratified in 1984 as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (also known as the Banjul Charter) which promotes and protects human rights and basic freedoms on the African continent.

The first part of the Charter (Articles 1 to 18) lists the rights acknowledged to every individual “without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or any status” (Article 2).
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UK won't cut aid over human rights abuses

2011-11-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

International Development Minister says policy has been misrepresented

Aid will not be cut, but switched to ngos and civil society organisations

African social justice activists statement presented to UK government

London - 22 November 2011. A statement signed by over 100 African social justice activists, criticising the UK's reported new aid policy, has been presented to Britain's Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell MP.

Scroll down this previous news release to read the statement by African activists and the list of signatories:
http://petertatchellfoundation.org/general/uk-don-t-cut-aid-over-human-rights-abuses-switch-it

The presentation of the African statement to the International Development Minister was made by Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights lobby, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, at a meeting at the headquarters of the UK Department for International Development in London on Monday 21 November 2011.

Mr Tatchell urged the International Development Minister to "heed the concerns of grassroots LGBTI and human rights advocates in developing countries" and to work to "empower them." Mr Mitchell promised to give the African activists statement careful consideration.

It has been widely reported in the media that the UK government was planning to cut aid to regimes that abuse LGBTI rights.

The Peter Tatchell Foundation has previously called on the UK government to "switch aid, don't cut it."

"Instead of cutting aid, Britain and other donor countries should divert aid money from human rights abusing governments and redirect it to grassroots, community-based humanitarian projects that respect human rights and do not discriminate in their service provision," urged Mr Tatchell.

"By redirecting aid in this way, abusive governments are punished but poor people are not penalised. They continue to receive the aid they need," he said.

At the meeting, Mr Mitchell said that his government's aid policy had been "misrepresented by some media".

He added that the UK government has not threatened to cut aid but has said it would "channel it in new directions" if recipient governments failed to meet four requirements: reduce poverty, adhere to human rights, demonstrate good financial management and show accountability to their citizens.

In the case of countries that violate human rights, Britain is, he said, committed to maintain aid but divert it from abusive central governments to good practice ngos, civil society organisations and local government bodies, as it has done in Malawi. There would be no net reduction in aid, he pledged.

Contrary to media reports, Mr Mitchell confirmed that this aid conditionality was never primarily based on a recipient government's respect for LGBTI rights. Human rights adherence is one of the four pillars of UK aid conditionality and LGBTI rights is just one dimension of respect for human rights, he said.

Commenting on the International Development Minister's clarifications, Peter Tatchell said:

"The commitment of the UK government to global human rights, including LGBTI rights, is welcome and commendable. I am pleased to hear that no cuts in aid are planned.

"Although human rights abuses are unacceptable and violate international humanitarian law, any reduction in aid would penalise the poorest, most vulnerable people in developing countries. Many are dependent on aid for basic needs like food, clean water, health care and education. They should not be made to suffer because of human rights abuses by their governments.

"I look forward to Andrew Mitchell and David Cameron making high profile public statements in the coming weeks to refute the misreporting of government aid policy and to counteract the negative anti-LGBTI backlash that this misreporting has generated in some African countries.

"Perceptions are important. It is very damaging to LGBTI communities in developing countries if cuts in vital aid are associated with LGBTI people and western demands for LGBTI equality. This inflames homophobia," noted Mr Tatchell.

Further information:

Peter Tatchell 0207 403 1790

Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation

Email: peter@petertatchellfoundation.org
Website: www.petertatchellfoundation.org

Friends of RAINKA Zambia remember Winstone Zulu

2011-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

The Zambian LGBT Community mourns the passing of human rights activist Winstone Zulu, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.

Winstone was born in 1964, in Lusaka, Zambia, the sixth of thirteen children. He was diagnosed with polio at the age of three, and had lived with HIV/AIDS since 1990, in 1997, he had contracted TB – and was cured of it in the same year.

In the years preceding his HIV positive diagnosis, he watched four of his brothers die of TB related deaths. These experiences made him aware of the conection between TB and HIV and he then embarked on devoting his efforts to raising awareness on the dangers of TB, focussing on key message, that TB was curable. These activities made him a leading global advocate on TB and HIV/AIDS. Winstone had originally planned to study political science abroad but his dreams were curtailed when he was denied a visa owing to his HIV/AIDS status.

Remaining in Zambia, he became an activist, educating himself about HIV/AIDS along the way. He was the Zambian to publicly acknowledge his HIV status publicly. With TB the leading cause of death among those with HIV/AIDS, Winstone was a global advocate on the dangers posed by the increasing spread of TB throughout the developing world.

He was among the first African activists that were involved in the global health movement on HIV/AIDS from its earliest stages. He attended the Paris World AIDS conference in 1994, participated in the meeting in Como, Italy where UNAIDS was formed in 1996 and served on numerous international working committees addressing the exploding AIDS epidemic since. He learned firsthand about the links between TB and HIV when he was diagnosed with TB and lost close family members to these diseases.

Winstone shared a platform on the global stage with Nelson Mandela at the Bangkok AIDS conference in July 2004. At the conference, Nelson Mandela recognized Winstone’s work with the following words:

“There have been so few TB survivors who have stepped forward to share their stories. We need more advocates like Winstone to tell the world about TB and the effect it has on so many millions of people.”

Africa has lost a giant in the fight against HIV/AIDS and our prayers remain that Winstone’s message of equal access and treatment for all,be emulated by all global citizens, his message transcended gender, race and sexual orientation.

Winstone’s untimely death is a blow to the Zambian LGBT community and it is our sincere hope that the courage and tenacity of spirit that he embodied and the successes that he achieved in the movement be remembered for generations to come.

He will be sorely missed.

Who are you?? - By Masiwa Lungowe Kayombo

2011-03-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

(I decided to write a small biography of myself for those who are curious. I figured it would be a bit more accurate this way.)
I was born on December 9 1987, in Lusaka. My name is *M.A. My sister *Nalu was born two years before me. My father died when I was nine and my mother, sister and I have been living together since. My mother has never re-married though she widowed young.
Well, I wouldn’t view myself as a journalist, stringer or a psychologist, but I would like to think of myself as a great and independent writer that wants and hopes to reach out, advocate and enlighten people about the reality of LBGT’s in Zambia the Southern region, Africa and the world at large.
Coming out as a writer has been one of the mirrors of my journey to come out as a lesbian. (Stay with me, here.)
I realized when I was young that I wasn’t like all the other kids. I wasn’t sure of the difference, but I knew it was there. I kissed a girl for the first time at boarding school when I was 13, though she had no idea, that was when the realization struck, so I knew this was new journey of my life and make things really hard for lots of people to understand – but I myself would be miserable if I did nothing.
I know I was quite young but I was now aware of my sexuality. I had fantasy after fantasy of running away and being happily, openly gay on the other hand I kept wishing it would go away and everything would just be okay. But still I stayed stuck. Though I was in a same sex boarding school, it became less okay to be in there than it would be to come out – until it became harder to pretend to be straight than it would be to be open about being gay. When I was 16 years old, I did a lot of soul-searching. I must admit, I was terrified but I knew I wouldn’t be okay anymore with how things had been before.
Although I had hooked up with girls in high school, I was introduced to the lesbian culture through the Internet. That was when I started really exploring what it meant to be lesbian after high school. I never really had a "coming out" event or an emotional breakdown - it has been more a process of trying to resolve the personal politics, the culture and my own attraction to people of the same sex. I don't think that I have found a resolution, but the process has led me to some amazing conversations and exploration about my sexuality. I have no regrets and I will live with no regrets.
I come out again here. “I’m a writer.” I had mixed emotions in the beginning, but it’s a positive thing for me I guess. My family is supportive of the direction of my life and career, whether it being a performing artist, social worker or writer which I all have a passion for. And now I surround myself with things that please me. My career isn’t an issue for most people at all – I am who I am, and it’s not that big a deal. But now, I wonder what their reactions would be if I came out; “I’m a lesbian.” Well time will tell so I just do my thing and life goes on.
I believe many people live in denial to the point of suicidal thoughts. Some have bounced back and others are still struggling daily within. So tell me are you bold enough to admit it? I certainly have had no battle within and have learnt to overcome all obstacles. I believe this to be part of the natural process of living unto life. Yet these are the times when I have GROWN to know my true strength, spirit, heart, mind, soul and power that oftentimes is more than I can ask or think. In other words, you may not be able to describe it, but you know you are positively in control. And, you will certainly know who your real friends are! We spend so much time stifling ourselves. So many years spent trying to be who we aren’t, who we don’t even want to be. Gay, writer, witch – even things we think are no big deal, we often hide from the world. We hide from ourselves. We trivialize pieces of our identity, trying to be normal or small or unremarkable, because we’ve learned that that’s the way to be.
I'm not unattractive, I dress like a girl “sometimes”, with outfits that define my curves etc, but I also have no problem with chopping my hair off and wearing an oversized tee. I am not afraid to speak my mind, and not afraid to get aggressive or competitive like a boy. I don't WANT to be a cookie cutter housewife, who picks flowers. I want to be me, and feel safe to fall in love with anyone. I am big and remarkable, powerful and proud. That’s the new regime. That’s the wave, that’s the paradigm shift – that’s the connection revolution.
One question to ask yourself; Are you happy and complete? You only have the time and space of now to know YOU of this universe within!
So, for all those colorful people, live each day with a smile and never let things of this world or sight get you down. The way you embrace your true potential is how you think, believe, laugh and act first to yourself, then to others as you smile your days in opulence all around. I know there are people who are bankers, lawyers, physicians and developers who have lived in secret out of fear. I also know what it is like to wait for the sun to rise, so I can get some heat to then brace myself for a cold shower. This is why I cannot write what I have not walked within!
Today, I’m calling us out. So tell me, friends, who are you?

Jobs Advertisement

2010-08-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

Ref Code: FR_01LSK-2010

Programme Officer

Friends of Rainka Zambia

FOR is a trust, not-for-profit Organization that is working to ensure people`s dignity by ensuring that individual rights are respected and basic needs are met in Zambia through advocacy, information dissemination, legal reform, research and direct service provision. We do not discriminate on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender or any other status (ICCPR-UN/AU).

Location: Lusaka, zambia

Description of office: This position is located at FOR`s Lusaka office – Secretariat. The secretariat oversees the implementation of For`s strategic plan in three designated towns – Lusaka, Copperbelt and Livingstone as these are a strategic interest to the work of FOR. There are ongoing commitments which will be carried out over a number of years.

Background to the Role: The secretariat has a strong track record working with partner Organizations in and out country on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights, HIV/Aids Intervention and Prevention, good governance strategies and transparency, aid effectiveness in the context of FOR programmes and advocacy positioning with civil society. This has developed as a very strategic position, building up capacity in advocacy, policy reform and direct service delivery for its target group and will begin to influence processes of social and economic justice.

Reporting to: Executive Director of the secretariat
Managing: (Individuals/Team/Support staff)
Contract Type: Fixed term
Contract Duration: One (1) years
Salary: Per budget allocation
Location of Position: FOR secretariat with possibility of frequent travel in and out country

Scope of the Role:
FOR`s strategic direction has evolved since its creation in 2007 and is provided by the new strategic plan that has since been developed by its core membership. Given the importance of this work, the Programme Officer position will provide support and input to the development of operational and advocacy/outreach strategies for the Organization both at national level and in liaison with International partners. The work will contribute to the support of members and partners alike to develop their capacity to influence policy reform through participatory engagement.

Key Duties and responsibilities

MANAGEMENT
 Technical and financial management i.e. fundraising
 Monitor the work of project staff and ensure frequent participatory reviews of programme
 Prepare and submit annual financial and technical reports on funded projects
 Strengthen technical capacity of members and partners through accompaniment and capacity building events
 Promote and facilitate increased collaboration and alliances between partners at national and international level
 Strengthen capacity of partners in the areas of human rights and policy advocacy
 Organize events to share lesson learning
 Put into practice the lessons learnt
 Contribute analysis and examples for development education

POLICY
Support the Executive Director in the following duties;
 the development and implementation of FOR`s strategic Plan
 Document learning and liaise with team/staff
 Monitor and report on policy context in and out country, feeding into programme development and FOR advocacy, communication and education
 Facilitate research and analysis on priority/innovative themes for FOR feeding into policy implementation and strategic Plan
 Lobby policy makers to ensure FOR participation in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring

NETWORKING
 Support the Executive Director in networking and coordination with other international partners, working groups, including facilitating meetings, preparing agendas and material and following up on decisions taken
 Liaise with other programme officers for partner exchange and for greater integration of work
 Represent FOR in building alliances as when required

Qualification
 Public Administration or equivalent
 2 year field work experience, preferably community based
 Knowledge of the key issues and trends on policy/ advocacy / health work

Skills ability to manage and build capacity
 Understanding and experience of project/programme cycle, and participatory appraisal techniques
 Excellent practical understanding and experience of financial management and budget monitoring/reporting
 Strong analytical skills
 Fluent written and oral communications in English, two major Zambian languages and/ or foreign language
 Interpersonal and team work skills
 Computer literate and excellent word, excel, PowerPoint, email and internet skills required

Person specification
 Highly motivated with a spirit of volunteerism
 Sensitivity towards the issues of people living in marginalization, stigmatization and social exclusion
 Other; availability to work outside normal working hours and travel extensively when necessary

Ref Code: FR_02LSK-2010

Field Officer (Outreach, Communications)

Friends of Rainka Zambia

FOR is a trust, not-for-profit Organization that is working to ensure people`s dignity by ensuring that individual rights are respected and basic needs are met in Zambia through advocacy, information dissemination, legal reform, research and direct service provision. We do not discriminate on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender or any other status (ICCPR-UN/AU).

Location: Lusaka, zambia

Reporting to: Programme officer
Managing: FOR activities
Contract Type: Fixed term
Contract Duration: Two (2) years
Salary: Per budget allocation
Location of Position: FOR secretariat with the possibility of frequent travel to sites

Description of office: Under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Officer of FOR, the Outreach, Communications Field Officer supports the implementation of the programmes as stipulated in the Strategic Plan. The Field officer supervises and leads the consultant and support staff of FOR projects and works in close collaboration with FOR staff, community members, technical advisors and experts ensuring successful implementation of FOR activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The outreach, Communications Field officer will have two main functions. Firstly, s/he will be responsible for supporting FOR in the implementation of a outreach and communication strategy to strengthen community membership support, in particular, coordinating all activities in the FOR Strategic Plan under three themes- Outreach, Direct service delivery and Research and I.E.C development. This will involve working with all relevant stakeholders to help develop and disseminate information and educational materials. Secondly it will involve designing and developing a programme of support to build capacities for community members and partners so that their activities contribute, significantly, to FOR`s goal.

Description of Duties

Communications and outreach:
 Providing advice and support, as requested by the secretariat, on the development of an effective outreach campaign
 Providing advice as requested for the creation of ongoing, long term strategies to inform the community membership about their entitlements and support efforts to ensure their needs are well communicated to key stakeholders
 Assisting in the development of outreach materials including leaflets, posters, banners and any other material
 Working closely with all other stakeholders in this process, including other agencies and donors, to ensure that the most effective package of support is offered
 Represent FOR at all meetings relating to development of an effective outreach strategy
 Developing and producing any outreach materials necessary for the effective communication of FOR`s related project work to beneficiaries
 Supporting other communications related activities as required
 Ensuring programme of work is delivered in time and on budget
 Ensuring activities under this sector fit well and are effectively coordinated with other components of the programme and Secretariat are fully informed of the process

Qualifications/Experience

 Graduate level education
 Minimum 2 years field experience in development and mobilization
 Experience in developing projects and programmes to empower and build capacity of community, highly desirable
 Tact, sensitivity and an ability to manage complex and highly delicate matters discreetly and effectively
 Prior knowledge of and dedication to the UN Human Rights principles and the African Charter
 Native speaker standard written and spoken English
 A team player with good liaison skills, a high level of initiative and self-motivation and ability to work with a team in a multi-cultural environment
 Willingness to work late and travel to project sites

Ref Code: FR_03LSK-2010

Financial and Administrative Officer

Friends of Rainka Zambia

FOR is a trust, not-for-profit Organization that is working to ensure people`s dignity by ensuring that individual rights are respected and basic needs are met in Zambia through advocacy, information dissemination, legal reform, research and direct service provision. We do not discriminate on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender or any other status (ICCPR-UN/AU).

Location: Lusaka, zambia

Reporting to: Executive Director of the secretariat
Managing: Financial and Administrative affairs
Contract Type: Fixed term
Contract Duration: One (1) years
Salary: Per budget allocation
Location of Position: FOR secretariat

Duties and Responsibilities;

 Ensure day-to-day administration of FOR administrative affairs in close collaboration with the Executive director as well as other relevant actors on office related administrative issues (i.a. maintain updated inventory lists, purchase and maintain office equipment, furniture, telephones, computers and IT-connections)
 Manage effective and cost efficient administrative and internal financial procedures and control, including taking into account the particular requirements and safe-guards that FOR`s programme locations call for; provide periodic evaluation of trends and suggestions for improvement
 Manage budgetary and financial resource management policies for the FOR Secretariat, liaise with the financial authorities, ensure quality standards and timeliness, establish monthly financial and administrative reports concerning the financial and budgetary situation in the office
 Act as the FOR Accountant, including bookkeeping on a daily basis, bank accounts, payments, etc. and financial issues at FOR Secretariat
 Advise management, monitor and support field offices on the validity and conformity of administrative and financial procedures with the standing rules and regulations, ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
 Any other tasks to fulfill the mandate of FOR as requested by FOR

Qualification/Experience
 `A` level or diploma in Business administration or equivalent and accounting education is desirable
 Proven experience in a related field, highly desirable
 Knowledge of and dedication to the UN principles and the African Charter
 Fluent written and oral communication skills in English and/or two Zambian languages
 High degree of organizational skills and ability to work under pressure
 Good interpersonal, communication and problem solving skills
 Highly motivated and willing to work outside normal hours

Executive Director Appointment - Chanda Mubanga

2010-08-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2010

Dear Partners,

Re: Friends of RAINKA Zambia – Executive Director Appointment - Chanda Mubanga

The Board of Directors of Friends of RAINKA Zambia is pleased to announce the appointment of Chanda Mubanga as Executive Director for Friends of RAINKA Zambia.
Chanda Mubanga takes over from our Interim Executive Director who was serving on behalf of the Board of Directors as Interim Executive Director with immediate effect.

Chanda also known as Chan brings to RAINKA a wealth of experience and knowledge and had previously held the position of Interim Executive Director of Friends of RAINKA, Zambia and is a well known human rights activist.

Please note that the Executive Director remains the focal point person for Friends of RAINKA Zambia and with effect from today August 3, 2010 is the only staffer of Friends of RAINKA Zambia.

Therefore, ALL Friends of RAINKA business should be channelled through the office of the Executive Director’s or the Board until such time as, other staff appointments are made and communicated, where necessary.

Further, we will be advertising all other positions within the secretariat and interested parties should visit our url:rainkazambia@facebook.com for job descriptions or send their applications directly to friendsofrainkazambia@gmail.com.
We would like to assure our funders that the programmatic aspects of Friends of RAINKA Zambia will continue as planned and that our current Executive Director has the capacity and ability to manage the secretariat going forward.

We thank you for your continued support and partnership and request that you join us in welcoming our new Executive Director into their new role.

Homosexuality Satanic - Zambian Republican Vice President, George Kunda

2010-05-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

Zambia's Republican Vice President George Kunda this weekend called homosexuality foreign, satanic and sadistic he was speaking upon arrival at Lusaka International airport from his medical treatment in south Africa.

Kunda was reacting to rumours of his alleged demise.

“Unfortunately I got the rumour which was circulated in Zambia about my purported demise. This must have been fabricated definitely by some criminals, sadists and in fact satanists, because this is not our culture. These are some of the things that are coming from outside the country such as homosexuality,” he said.

What's surprising is how the Republican Vice President connected the homosexuality issue with rumours of his alleged demise. This unfortunate incident tells a desperate story of how the ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) government will use anything, and risk innocent nationals in their quest to gain the churches' and ultimately the Zambian vote. It so happens that this time around, its the gays.

Earlier in the day, MMD acting Spokes person Mike Mulongoti said that the ruling MMD could not embrace gay rights as the party was founded on christian norms.
He said;'Zambia is declared a Christian nation and anything that is unChristian and alien to our society is deemed to be an abomination.' Mulongoti is also Works and Supply Minister.

And when contacted for comment, opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma said he could not speak about gay issues because they had no room in the country.

Mr Kakoma said the fact that the gay rights were rejected at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was an indication that the UPND was not in support of homosexuality. “The UPND was part of the NCC deliberations that rejected anything to deal with the homosexuality rights. We equally reject these rights,” he said.

Meanwhile Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson and Kabwata MP Given Lubinda said that he's party would not preoccupy itself with less pressing issues because it was currently more concerned with the welfare of the people.

Mr Lubinda said the PF had not even sat to discus the matter because the party wanted to concentrate on how best it would find solutions to pressing needs of serving the families in the country.

The comments from the PF have attracted negative comments from the general populace who feel that the party should have made their position clear. This development if not handled properly might be used by the ruling government to project the PF as pro - gay and anti christian.

As the witch hunt against the gay community mounts , there's an eerie silence from Zambia's civil society and the international community and FoR poses the question, who will speak for the gay community?

In the wake of last week's irresponsible comments against the gay community from the Chairperson of the National Aids Council (NAC) Bishop Joshua Banda, we expected a reaction or at least a mummer from the international community more so the Global Fund who happen to be NAC's biggest funders and note this silence as a betrayal to human rights and a set back in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

On World AIDS Day,2009 Michel Sidibe was 'concerned that after 28 years into the epidemic the virus continues to make inroads into new populations; stigma and discrimination continue to undermine efforts to turn back the epidemic. The violation of human rights of people living with HIV, women and girls, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and sex workers must end.'

Comments like Bishop Banda's only fuel, Sidebe's concerns, if the chairperson of the NAC feels that gay people are an abomination and directing funding to them is not beneficial, how then, can he and his council plan appropriate interventions? Joshua Banda has a moral obligation to step down as chair of the NAC, his position requires that he be more open to suggestions that will help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

So far, even UN Special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa Elizabeth Mataka has remained silent. Mataka has a number of fancy speeches on minority interventions to her belt and has highlighted at international foras the importance of inclusive responses to HIV/AIDS but sadly, those speeches are only made for the benefit of the donors who are still unaware of the goings on in the Zambian HIV/AIDS 'activists' community.

So far,Elizabeth Mataka and ZNAN are yet to work on any interventions on MSM or injecting drug users as these practices are 'outlawed' in the country, they continue to 'toe' the safety line in their 'activism' that's why people like Joshua Banda can bash gay people and still chair the National Aids Council.

Shame on the Global Fund, shame on UNADIS, shame on the NAC, shame on ZNAN, shame on CHAZ. Where is your activism?

'On this World AIDS Day, let us work urgently to remove punitive laws and practices and put an end to discrimination against and criminalization of people affected by HIV.' UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidebe.

Sidebe's words obviously fell on deaf ears, if the UNAIDS cannot stand up against homophobia and hold Zambian and African leadership accountable, then we have a long way to go. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also called on“all countries to live up to their commitments to enact or enforce legislation outlawing discrimination against people living with HIV and members of vulnerable groups”.

Elizabeth Mataka in Feb, 2008 - 'I draw your attention to emerging evidence from UNAIDS and others that shows an increase in HIV transmission within communities of injecting drug users and sexual minorities in Africa.

I know that working in and with these communities can present a number of challenges, especially to more conservative communities, and yet work with them we must if we are committed to tackling AIDS. We need to be bold in our leadership and ensure that we confront even the most difficult aspects of addressing this epidemic with courage and openness.'

Mataka, where is your boldness, where is your leadership? Will you challenge Joshua Banda,the NAC and government with courage and openness? Will you speak for the gay community from a human rights and health perspective? Well, we will not hold our breath because the day is yet to come when Zambian 'acivists' will put their money where their mouths are.

Zambian Clergy’s Continued Attacks on Gays Worry Activists

2010-05-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

LUSAKA, Zambia - Amidst increasing criticism and much protest from Zambian churches, the Zambian gay community has called on the church to exercise fairness and leadership. This is in reaction to ongoing calls from church leaders for government to resist calls from the international community to adopt an inclusive constitution that upholds Human Rights.

Reacting to comments made by Swedish envoy to Zambia, Marie Andersson de Frutos who earlier in the week had encouraged government to come up with a lasting constitution that respects the universal human rights declaration, the Zambian clergy have strongly condemned this statement calling it 'un African and un Christian.'

Ambassador de Frutos had advised government against ‘judging people based on their sexual orientation’ as it is not the best way to treat people who wanted to believe in what they do.

Media reports this work have highlighed continued negative reactions to Ambassador de Frutos' progressive advice as church leaders feel that the International community is perpetuating homosexuality.

Church organisations and non-governmental organisations have also condemned reports that the number of gay people in Zambia is growing and that some donor nations were prepared to fund their programmes. These allegations are as a result of continued and increased advocacy from the gay community over the past year.

Yesterday, Zambian Anglican Bishops joined the Catholics in condemning homosexuality, Anglican Council presiding Bishop Robert Mumbi said that homosexuality is ‘against the African and Christian ways of Life’ that defined Zambia and set it apart from other countries and that a lot of ‘work’ needs to be done in the wake of strong gay campaigns.

In a related incident, Northmead Assemblies of God overseer Bishop Joshua Banda who also chairs the National Constitution Conference (NCC) general constitutional principles committee and National Aids Council (NAC), called on the donor community to fund development programmes rather than support practices that are perceived to be alien, this against a back drop of rampant corruption and abuse of donor funds by Zambian civil servants. Bishop Banda said that, it was unacceptable for donor agencies to be considering funding ‘such acts’ as they were of no benefit to the Zambian majority.
As chair of the NAC Bishop Banda's comments are unfortunate from a human rights and public health (HIV/AIDS) response angle which is supposed to be inclusive and consultative.

And Bishop Joe Imakando of Bread of Life Church International also reiterated theses comments by stating that gay people have ‘no room’ in a Christian Zambia and condemned the Swedish envoy for her timely calls.

Attacks on the gay community have continued this week with coverage in almost all the national dailies’, the state house web site and other media house have also extensively carried these statements. The mood in a normally tolerant Zambia is slowly turning hostile as religious leaders pressure government to act ‘responsibly’ by continued human rights violations in the name of Christianity.

Earlier this week, the Evangelical fellowship of Zambia Chairperson Bishop Paul Mususu made misguided statements against the gay community with the support of the Independent Churches of Zambia Board Chairperson, Reverend David Masupa who said that political parties that will receive funds to promote a secular state would be de-campaigning themselves.

“There is no way the opposition political parties will be using the secular clause to campaign. Christians are in the majority and they will just be de-campaigning themselves,” he said. Rev Masupa said the National Constitutional Conference unanimously adopted the Christian nation clause and that it would be wrong for some organisation to reverse the decision.

He said it is commonplace for countries to adopt a religion in the constitution and that Zambia is predominately Christian.

The Swedish and Netherlands embassies have come under attack by the church and government due to unfounded allegations of supporting the gay community and opposition political parties respectively.

The church and government are desperately trying to cover up for their blatant inadequacies as donor agencies continue to question the rampant mismanagement of donor funds by government agencies. Bishop Banda is also a beneficiary of the exorbitant NCC that continues to drain the nation of its meagre resources. If Joshua Banda and his cronies could donate a third of their excessive earnings from the NCC, Zambia would be on the right step to economic recovery.

The Anglican Church in Zambia severed its ties with its UK and US counter parts in December 2003 as a result of a fall out over the appointment of an openly gay bishop.

In September 2009 former Republican President Fredrick Chiluba warned Zambians to ‘watch out’ for a progressive constitution, he said ‘We are living in a very difficult time, our friends in South Africa accepted that which they didn’t want and implemented in their constitution the rights of the devil. This may be slowly coming but we must watch out. ‘

He warned, ‘There have been attempts in this country to put the same right in the constitution. We have to be wide awake and particularly if our children understand fully what this means to them and those after them, then we will have a firm [and] strong foundation.’

Former president Chiluba,a close ally of republican President Rupiah Banda is the architect of the Christian nation clause and also the persecution of the gay community.

The gay community is fearful of the future and is concerned with the ongoing persecution, Zambia is headed to the polls next year with an unpopular government that out of desperation may call for a minorities crack down in order to win the churches support during the forthcoming elections.

Already, in urban areas, reports of hate speech and victimisation of members of the gay community have been recieved following the attacks from church leaders and government. Again, the church continues to push political agendas in the name of Christianity whilst the international community and gay activists stand alone in their quest to uphold and protect human rights.

It’s no surprise that the Zambian civic movement and Human Rights Commission remain silent whilst atrocities continue to be committed by the church and government, after all, as the age old adage goes, ‘ you can’t bite the finger that feeds you’.

On April 28, 2010 Human Rights Watch (HRW) in partnership with Aids Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) and PRISSCA published a report on the state of Zambian prisons that told a ghastly tale of abuse, neglect, torture and HIV/AIDS infection risk to the world’s outrage. Its no surprise that most Zambian clergy have remained silent on this matter.
It’s evident from the lack of concern from the church leadership that they are only out to enrich themselves and not to speak for the people as is required in Christian doctrine. They sit at the table with crooks, thieves and despots but are always quick to condemn human rights champions.

Zambian church leaders have confused two important issues that ought to be approached with extreme caution, there’s the matter of gross financial mismanagement by government institutions that the international community and independent media have raised and there’s also the question of the various human rights violations that government is party to i.e. criminalisation of same sex relations, the current state of Zambian prisoners as highlighted by Human Rights Watch to mention but a few, these issues need to be addressed clearly and effectively by all stakeholders using appropriate forums as opposed to the current scenario where the church is confusing the general public and indirectly advocating for the murder of Zambian minorities.

As human rights activists we appeal to the Zambian public to see these men for what they are, a bunch of small minded, misguided, greedy and corrupt bigots who have lost the plot in their quest to further enrich themselves. We also call upon African clergy that practice inclusive ministries to come to the aid of the Zambian gay community and international community and encourage a spirit of dialogue before a tolerant Zambia turns into another Uganda or Senegal.

Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Attacks Gay Community

2010-05-05T03:46:00.000-07:00

Friends of RAINKA is saddened by the recent comments from the Evangelical fellowship of Zambia's Executive Director Bishop Paul Mususu who has called for the retention of the Christian Nation clause in the Zambian Constitution. He said; “It is not proper for us to get rid of what we have cherished over the years. We shall be sinking so low if we allow things like homosexuality and pornography in the name of freedom of expression.’

The clergyman was responding to calls from political parties and the donor community to exclude the Christian Nation clause from the current constitution as it violates the right to freedom of expression and instead adopt a constitution that recognises and upholds the rights of all.

Bishop Mususu’s comments are not surprising considering the herd mentality of African leaders and come a few days after the comments made by Malawian President and current African Union (AU) Chair Bingu wa Mutharika at the Episcopal ordination of Monsignor Stima of the diocese of Blantyre where he termed same sex relations as 'un African and disgusting.'

Mususu was reacting to reports of donors who have funded political parties to support what he is calling the creation of ‘a secular state’. He said; ' It would be wrong for political parties and NGOs to promote values alien to the Zambian society for the sake of money.' He called for the retention of the Christian Nation clause as a non legal requirement.

It makes sad reading when African leaders ignore the blatant challenges that the continent continues to grapple with but instead opt to look at the world through their myopic eyes. The gay movement has suffered yet another set back in Africa.

The Evangelical fellowship of Zambia is a beneficiary of the benefits currently enjoyed by 'Christian' religious groups and are only interested in the spoils that their positions give them through excessive government incentives that they continue to enjoy as ‘Christian Leaders’ under the current constitution and they will fight to retain their excesses.

The current Zambian constitution criminalises same sex relations according to cap 87 section 155 and 156 of the Zambian penal Code, under the ‘unnatural offences ACT.’ These offences include sodomy and other sexual acts, which are considered “unnatural

Zambia is a signatory to the African Human and People's rights charter (AHPRC) whose main objective is to acknowledge and respect individual rights “without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or any status’”

If Bishop Paul Mususu and his fellowship were genuine, they would have focussed their energies on uniting the nation as opposed to making divisive comments that will gain them favour in the eyes of an oppressive the government.

Earlier this week, continued violence characterised a by election in Mufumbwe, North Western Province of Zambia but little has been heard from the fellowship who have kept mum on the issue but continue to politicise the homosexuality issue. We suppose that, in a 'Christian' Zambia characterised by intolerance, blame, corruption, greed and hatred, very little can be done by progressive politicians and organisations that choose to uphold the rights of all, after all, Christianity in this context is not about love, brotherhood but about hatred. Hatred and intolerance have no place in Africa. They have no place in a progressive world.

Bishop Paul Mususu is not acting alone; he is merely echoing the sentiments that continue to reverberate across the continent. He is calling for blood. He and his peers are a desperate generation of bigots that have watched and condoned an era of poverty ignorance and disease and have failed to call it for what it is.

Friends of RAINKA remind Bishop Mususu of the biblical verse Mathew 25: vs 45" Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brothers, you do unto me' Mususu and Zambian religious leaders are reminded that the first duty of a Christian is to bring the peace of Christ in any situation.

They should cease to use the gay community as a scape goat for their inadequacies and failures.Religious and political issues have their own space and they should be debated in a fair manner without including angry invectives or personal opinions.

The Zambian gay community will not be used by fledgling religious organisations' for publicity or monetary gain.

Africa

2010-04-26T04:22:00.000-07:00

FoR stands as history’s witness, our generation has witnessed a break down in African culture and morality. We have witnessed a myriad of decisions that have been made by african governments based on ignorance, hate, greed, intolerance and selfishness. We are part of a strange time...

A time when African morals and values have been eroded beyond redemption, a time when power and money have become the main drivers for decision making, a hard time when Africa has turned its back on its own fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters owing to individual leaders’ quests to amass more power and wealth.

A time when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni once lauded ‘the son of Africa’, has bowed to fundamental Christian influences to perpetuate his power by tolerating the adoption of a genocide bill, a time when Malawi’s Bingu Wamutharika has locked up his own children because they choose to love one another, a time when Senegal and Kenya continually persecute its own brothers and sisters in the name of faith, a time when sub-Saharan Africa struggles with poverty and disease and the focus remains on intolerance of any person that is 'different. '

A time when a National Constitution Conference (NCC) in Zambia ridicules an important piece of legislation that proposes access to adequate food and clean water as every Zambian’s constitutional right. Indeed, a sad time.

A time when Africa persecutes its own in the name of Africaness and Christianity. Just what is considered African? Kindness is an African virtue, trust (much to our detriment!) is an African virtue, good intent is an African virtue, honesty is an African virtue and above all, LOVE and a spirit of oneness is an African virtue.

Abuse of power, corruption, greed, unkindness, blame, poverty and dishonesty are un African! All self imposed African ‘Leaders’ sponsored by the fundamentalists from the west to kill and incarcerate their own people in the name of christianity and morality are indeed acting outside of the African spirit.

Africa is about Ubuntu, I am because you are. I am indeed, my brother’s keeper.

Zambia: LGBTI Persecution - The 'Christian Way'

2010-02-20T21:03:00.000-08:00

The move by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to adopt a clause that directly discriminates against homosexuals has caused fear and uncertainty in the Zambian gay community. Over the past two years, Zambia has undertaken a constitution making process with a view of adopting a constitution for all Zambians that could withstand the test of time.

The NCC was established under an Act of Parliament, i.e., Act No. 19 of 2007. The Act gives legal powers to the NCC to debate, recommend and adopt recommendations from the Mung’omba Draft Constitution and Report.

From inception, the constitution making process has been marred by controversy and the process literally shoved down the throats of the Zambian majority who had earlier opposed the formation of the NCC and proposed a constituent assembly to adopt the 2005 Mungomba draft constitution.

Like Chiluba before him, Mwanawasa failed to adopt a constitution making process chosen by the people and imposed the NCC to delay the process for his convenience at a cost of millions of dollars to a nation gripped in the talons of poverty, illiteracy and disease.

Very little of value has come out of the NCC, to date, the conference comprises a majority of stooges from the ruling MMD government and spiritual leaders with faith based agendas.

What initially appeared as an opportunity for the nation has now turned into a witch hunting mission and a platform to extol the mundane with little attention paid to real national issues.

An ordinary day at the NCC includes debating on the qualifications of a presidential candidate whilst ignoring the critical issue of effectively addressing concerns of good democratic governance that, include adopting the absolute majority concept (50 plus one vote) in the electoral process to now ridiculing homosexuals.

On February 18th, 2010, the NCC adopted a clause that directly forbids same sex marriage in Zambia; this was in reaction to a proposal from a member of the NCC’s human rights committee who moved to include a clause that directly forbids same sex marriages.

Under article 47(3) the proposed constitution provides for marriage between two people of the opposite sex who are above the age of 18 years. The delegate moved to add clause 5 to article 47 to read; “Marriage between persons of the same sex is prohibited."

NCC chairperson, Chifumu Banda, a prominent lawyer, tried to suppress the debate by insisting that clause 5 was already covered under clause 3 to the outrage of several delegates who defended the proposed clause to its adoption.

Justification for this regressive clause comes in the wake of the current persecution of the LGBTI community on the African continent. The NCC in their ‘infinite’ wisdom felt that they could not leave anything to chance.

Medical Association of Zambia representative on the NCC Dr. Antoinette Phiri was very specific in her debate saying; "We don’t want to leave this issue to interpretation somewhere else; we should adopt the clause as clearly as it is. We don’t want a situation where we have a law that is unclear about such serious issues; it must come out categorically clear that same sex marriage is forbidden. And this is the only chance we have to keep such a progressive clause."

These sentiments come from a medical practitioner with first hand knowledge of the current health situation in a nation struggling to contain the HIV/AIDS with zero interventions targeted at the LGBTI community.

Further, southern province minister Daniel Munkombwe went on to liken homosexuals to animals and further stated that animals are more superior to homosexuals as they do not engage in same sex relations, this statement was received with laughter and jeering from the conference delegates who could not even question the morality of a prominent leader referring to other human beings as ‘lower than animals.’

It is not the first time that Zambian law and policy makers have taken such a hard and homophobic stance against the LGBTI community. This is a direct attack against an already vulnerable community and may overshadow any successes that the community has made, to date.

On March 3, 2009, republican vice president George Kunda condemned homosexuality in parliament and called it a vice that needs to be stopped. This was in response to a member of parliament’s request for feedback on what government was doing to curb homosexuality in the country.

“Zambia is a Christian nation and it shall continue to be so because it is part of our constitution. And acts such as homosexuality are not part of the Christian norm. In 2005, this house passed stiff laws against homosexuality. For people having carnal knowledge of each other against the order of nature the punishment is a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. If you have carnal knowledge of an animal you serve a minimum of 25 years”.

Amidst laughter and cheering, vice president Kunda went on to say, "I know there are some prominent people in our society who are practicing homosexuality, some of them are engineers, some are lawyers and some are journalists."

“If you have information about such people, report them to the law enforcement agencies. There are also some people who are bisexual and they marry to cover up their activities, but at the end of the day we know them,” said vice president Kunda as the house cheered him on.

Zambia was proclaimed a ‘Christian’ nation in 1991 by second republican president Chiluba, this, despite much protest from the Zambian community who continue to regard the declaration as unfortunate, at best, players in the ‘born again movement’ applauded Chiluba as they saw this as an opportunity to directly benefit from Chiluba’s immoral presidential ‘slush fund’.

The proclamation of Zambia as a Christian nation continues to divide the nation and remains the most powerful weapon that myopic and small minded leaders use to justify their unending and unjustified persecution of the LGBTI community in the country.

Chiluba was also the first incumbent president to relentlessly persecute the LGBTI community. He went on to justify his behaviour and said that, "Homosexuality is the deepest level of depravity. It is unbiblical and abnormal. How do you expect my Government to accept something that is abnormal?"

This statement came after attempts by a Zambian human rights organisation LEGATRA were made to fight homophobia and ensure the protection of the rights of the LGBTI people in the country.

Clearly, in light of these developments, Zambia continues to regress even further into an abyss of ignorance, intolerance and fear. The challenge for the LGBTI community remains civil society’s option to remain silent whilst such evils are being perpetrated but then, go on to ‘condemn’ these violations at international conventions.

This is window dressing and it’s purely targeted at accessing donor funds as opposed to promoting and protecting human rights for all Zambians.

The NCC is currently in the process of recommending a ‘timeless’ constitution, this is a constitution that abhors diversity, a constitution that is faith based, a constitution that hypocritical leaders can be comfortable with, a constitution that will divide the nation and put human beings in little boxes. A constitution based on petty emotions, small mindedness and ignorance.

NCC delegates are reminded that Zambia is a nation for all Zambians and it most certainly is NOT a church!
Simply, if you aspire to be Christian, what would Jesus do?