Sun, 12 Nov 2017 11:15:39 +0000
…cultural and traditional norms and values at stake
By AARON CHIYANZO AND MUKOSELA KASALWE
THERE is need for a serious probe into a secret indaba for gays and lesbians that was held at a named hotel in Livingstone and stringent action taken, says Chief Chikwanda of Mpika.
And the chief said that it was shameful that the hotel which had harboured such illicit activities was owned by prominent people in society, who were supposed to be opinion leaders. He charged that there was need for a serious probe into the matter and that the said hotel needed to be closed with immediate effect.
Chief Chikwanda warned that culture, values and ethics in Zambia were at stake as the country was quickly losing direction. The traditional leader said that Zambia was a Christian nation and that there was no way it could condone such shameful activities. Chief Chikwanda told the Sunday Nation that any traditional leader or politician who was involved in such barbaric acts was not fit for leadership. He pointed out that leaders were supposed to be at the forefront ensuring that national values, cultural and traditional norms were upheld.
“I don’t know where we are going, because a person is a Zambian, traditional leader or politician and owning such a business. Honestly speaking, if we say Zambia is a Christian nation, what are we practising? There is need to look into this matter, such hotels need to be closed, I mean there are guidelines to be followed,” said Chief Chikwanda. Chief Chikwanda said that Zambia was losing cultural norms by copying everything that was practised in the western culture. He said that the Zambian heritage as passed on from ancestors was slowly fading away because people were fond of copying Western norms.
Chief Chikwanda called on the institution responsible for the control of the hospitality industry in Zambia to ensure that it was kept in check.
A secret gathering of gays and lesbians from different countries recently met in Livingstone for a special indaba at a hotel believed to be co-owned by a highly respected opposition political party leader and a senior chief.
Meanwhile, the Zambian DNA says there is need establish who funded the secret gathering of gays and lesbians in Livingstone.
Zambian DNA spokesperson Mr Spuki Mulemwa said homosexuality was illegal in Zambia and unchristian as well as against the cultural norms.
Mr Mulemwa said as much as Zambia respected individual rights, it had no law which permitted homosexual acts.
“As the Zambian DNA we have heard about the story and are shocked this is because Zambia is Christian nation, so there is need to get to the bottom of who the funders of these people are and the reasons for holding such a meeting,” he said.
The opposition leader said the country was foreign to acts of gay and lesbians and he urged law enforcers to bring to book anyone who would be found wanting.
A source told Daily Nation recently that the meeting was so secretive that hotel workers were not allowed to serve them.
The workers would only leave what they needed and would be chased from the conference room and that no one was allowed to enter and leave anyhow.
“The meeting was there and it was done in private. No one was allowed to go in the hall or out,” the source said.
The source disclosed that people from different countries came for the seminar but didn’t say how many people attended.
Authorities at the hotel have denied hosting and accommodating a group of people advocating for gay rights.
The hotel’s public relations department denied such a meeting, saying that the only meeting the institution hosted was the MTN conference which ended last week.
But some workers who sought anonymity disclosed that there was a meeting of that nature.
“Yes, there was a conference but highly secured and secretive but it ended four days ago. Let me find out how many days and the number of people will get back to you,” the source said.
Homosexuality is illegal in Zambia and attracts a 14 year-jail sentence.
