By Dr Fred M’membe, President of the Socialist Party Zambia
The UPND is a member of the African Liberal Network (ALN), which also is a member of the Liberal International (LI). And LI Human Rights Committee Bulletin 4th Edition – LGBTI Rights states:
“In the year since Liberal International launched its Human Rights Bulletin, the final edition of the publication for 2015 – which has attracted contributions from senior ministers, UN diplomats, and prominent activists – has been released, with a focus in this edition on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights.
Contributors from Africa, Asia, and Latin America have written and been interviewed about their experiences in fighting for a cause at the heart of all liberals – equality. In this fourth edition of the Bulletin, politicians, activists, and advisors offered insights and practical advice for overcoming the challenges of standing up for minority groups in countries and across continents.
Writing about the landmark human rights manifesto for Africa, adopted in 2014 by member parties of LI cooperating organisation, Africa Liberal Network (ALN), ALN vice-president Rosemary Machua, of the Kenyan liberals, ODM (LI member), emphasised the importance of having a ‘human rights framework for Africa, by Africans’. The fact that sexual orientation is included in the Declaration is a tremendous achievement for African liberals. It firmly entrenches our view that LGBTI rights are important, recognized, and above all that they are human rights, added Mrs. Machua.
Addressing the political challenges associated with supporting minority groups in conservative societies, the Director of the Department for Women’s Rights in the DPP (LI full member), Taiwan, Dr. Ching-yi Lin, spoke of her party’s unwavering commitment to LGBTI communities, changing social attitudes and, eventually, being able to bring about tangible changes in government.
Chair of the LI LGBTI Working Group, Frank van Dalen, conducts an exclusive interview with government LGBTI rights adviser, activist and journalist, Enrique Torre Molina, who shares his views on what more politicians can do to promote the respect and advancement of the LGBTI community. Speaking in Mexico City, Enrique describes the situation for LGBTI people in Mexico and across Latin America more broadly and the role of young people in creating spaces to advance LGBTI rights adding that liberal values are the “essence” of the equality movement.”
These are views from the organisations to which the UPND belongs. To this add what we published yesterday:
If the UPND really wants to know who is dealing with the defenders, protectors and promoters of gay rights, they should start with State House.
On September 29, 2021 President Hakainde Hichilema hosted an ambassador of gay rights at State House. His name is Mr Tony Blair – a former British prime minister. Mr Hichilema held talks with Mr Blair on the possible collaboration between Zambia and the Tony Blair Institute for global change. Mr Hichilema said the institute is doing commendable work and hopes it can assist Zambia.
Mr Blair said his institute stands ready to help the new dawn administration. Mr Blair has been recognised as one of the top gay icons of the past three decades, along with figures such as Boy George, Sir Ian McKellen and Barbra Streisand. Gay Times said Blair’s status as an ambassador of gay rights was undeniable. Mr Blair, as British prime minister, introduced laws recognising trans people, civil partnerships, banned employers from sacking employees because of who they love and made homophobia a hate crime.
Mr Joe Biden, on May 4, 2012 told NBC’s “Meet the Press” anchor David Gregory: “I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love? And that’s what people are finding out is what all marriages, at their root, are about, whether they’re marriages of lesbians or gay men or heterosexuals.”
This is the President of United States today, the current occupant of the White House. And early in his presidency Mr Hichilema was a guest at the White House – something they were very proud of, were boasting about!
This week Mr Hichilema visited European Union Parliament in Brussels and addressed it. Gay rights in the European Union are protected under the European Union’s (EU) treaties and law. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in all EU states and discrimination in employment has been banned since 2000. The Treaty on European Union, in its last version as updated by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007 and in force as of 2009, makes the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union legally binding for the member state of the European Union and the European Union itself. In turn, Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union includes an anti-discrimination provision that states that “any discrimination based on any ground such as […] sexual orientation shall be prohibited.”
Furthermore, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides in Articles 10 that the European Union has a positive duty to combat discrimination (among other things) on the grounds of sexual orientation and provides in Article 19 ways for the Council and the European Parliament to actively propose pass legislation to do so. These provisions were enacted by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999.
In June 2010, the Council of the European Union adopted a non-binding toolkit to promote LGBT people’s human rights. In June 2013, the Council upgraded it to binding LGBTI Guidelines instructing EU diplomats around the world to defend the human rights of LGBTI people. So if one is looking for gays and defenders, protectors and promoters of gay right the starting point should be State House.
And this is the problem with malice, it boomerangs. Bob Marley sang in a reggae rhythm, “Why boasteth thyself, oh evil man
Playing smart and not being clever?
I said you’re working iniquity
To achieve vanity, yeah (if I sow, I sow)…No weak heart shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it…”
Thank you comrade for telling people exactly what I have been saying. Upnd has always been and will always be a gay supporting party.
Sunrise, if you love gay people so much go ahead and move to join your fellow gay f00I spaka. I am sure he will facilitate your visa there abroad. If you try that gayness near me or in zambia be rest assured I will effect arrest on you. Dirty dogs
KZ …….
Why are you so intrested in any topic about homos ??????
It seems homosexuality is always on your mind……….
And why do you always have an issue when I show my distaste for gay stuff? Are you gay and do my comments annoy your little gay soul.
Gays don’t feed me or pay my bills, im not worried about them………….
You on the other hand….
always around nkani yama homo…….
that is not showing distaste , but a dark attraction on your part………….
Just come out , instead of suppressing those feelings, badala………
You have an issue with me expressing my thoughts about gays and then accuse me of being gay haha. Yet you have previously posted here about how gays are good people and that you have best friends who are gay. So between me and you, who is likely to be gay. Some of you we know how you went abroad. You get visa based on gay relationship and fear of prosecution in zambia. Please do not comment on my posts about gays. Let me be
One might be gay , and harm no one apart from having agreed sex with another adult.
I hate more people who steal government money like people in the former government.
Its a troll/ Impostor based in the UK where LGBT rights are respected …it thrives on such topics pretending to be in Zambia. You keep quizzing it it wont give anything but insults because it will give itself away.
This article is a load of nonsense. LT why are you giving someone a platform to preach hatred.
Are you telling me that persecuting gay people is the most pressing need for Zambia.
Yes it is. You dirty gay boy
@Ben The real detractors of development are these guys Mmembe, Kabimba, tribalsit Imbwili and many others like Tayali. Binoculars man is not yapping anymore, i wonder whose keyhole he is peeping through.
Mmembe knows a lot about this ka!
The UPND manifesto – before last year’s election – clearly came out for the LGBTQ community and rightly so. But straight after the August 12 victory the LGBTQ entries in the manifesto disappeared quietly, and the president has made a U-turn on the subject, hereby betraying people who voted him into office. Shame on you! LGBTQ Zambians are also Zambians!
HASNTTHIS CHAP Been accused of proposing to another politican sometime back ?
Is this his way of trying to cover up ? by bringing this to the fore all the time ?
Just Asking ?? considering there are many more pressing issues
“emphasised the importance of having a ‘human rights framework for Africa, by Africans’.” LT
“Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.”
If this Fred M’membe, was a true Socialist and not one that thinks wearing a Che Fatigue hat is he wouldnt have a problem with LGBT rights as it has no effect or its isnt our biggest problem…everything about M’membe is fake including his marriage I wouldnt be surprised if its just a marriage of convenience.
The only problem I see is that once same sex marriages flourish, the human race will come to an end because there will be no procreation.
So you assume that everyone will eventually be gay…really laughable…the law of attraction are ecoded in our DNA just like a snake knows what to do immediately it hatches.
Tarino Orange… you don’t seem to understand anything. Once it becomes profitable everyone will join.
Well this is a public forum dont speak in parables like your are in that fictional book called the bible …be articulate for everyone to understand. How can it become profitable, are you well travelled as you claim? Its this fear and ignorance of the unknown the reason why even Politicans stay clear of this topic …SA respects LGBT rights is the human race coming to an end there?
Tarino Orange…who knows maybe you make your living through fimo fimo.
And there it is my dear friend in argument Mr. Deja Vu …you wonder why people especially in Zambia especially politicans can not have a sober discussion regarding this topic as they will be painted as being gay hence castgated which translates to political sucide. If one champions for rights of other humans how does that make them gay? Really laughable… Initially you were hiding in quotes but it was ignorance you were hiding regarding this issue.
It is sad that issue of gay rights is at the centre of socialist party when everybody knows that in Zambia it is a non starter. Which political can promote gay rights and win elections? Thus the whole debate is a waste of time. Individuals privately will always practice such but will never be accepted by Zambian voters. This is wasting energy and time. If they want to use it to gain power are in rude awakening because no govt will implement that in Zambia. Not in our life time.
This gayness has become more acceptable since the master gay president hh took over.
Interested I need money
The problem with Fred is he still thinks he is a Newspaper Editor …just look how he detaches himself from the topic trying to manipulate opinion. Whilst you are posting articles on such topics clear yourself regarding the Kabimba and you entanglement. This man is a fraud.
Tarino and spaka take your stinky gay p.e.n.i.s.e.s and shove them in your president. Fuseke!
Mate you should be worring about the law catching up with your thieving ass.
As someone mentioned above, your comments seem to be from someone trying to hide their sexuality. Are you a closet gay and thinking the more bash them on forums makes you more of a straight guy? Seek some help, might find some happiness for yourself
Mate you should be worring about the law catching up with your thieving ass.
As someone mentioned above, your comments seem to be from someone trying to hide their sexuality. Are you a closet gay and thinking the more bash them on forums makes you more of a straight guy? Seek some help, might find some happiness for yourself