Sistah Sistah Foundation's Gender-Based Violence Protest Accused of LGBTQ Advocacy

On Sunday, the Sistah Sistah Foundation organized a sanctioned demonstration against gender-based violence, but police allege it was a cover to propagate homosexuality.

The Christian principles of Zambia, according to the Zambian government, make it impossible for the country to support LGBTQ rights. The warning was issued the day after four feminist organization activists were jailed for allegedly spreading false information about an upcoming protest.

Almost two years after taking office, the administration of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Minister Jack Mwiimbu, told VOA on Wednesday that it does not support LGBTQ rights and has made that position clear.

He stated that the Sistah Sistah Foundation's march was illegal and against Zambian principles.

"I wish to warn members of the public not to allow and to flout the law deliberately by taking advantage of the prevailing environment that allows for freedom of expression and assembly," Mwiimbu said.

VOA spoke with Zambia Police Deputy Spokesman, Dan Mwale, who said the demonstrators had broken the law by advocating for LGBTQ rights rather than the more limited goal of protesting sexual and gender issues.

He declared that "investigations have intensified" and that "police have instituted investigations" into the foundation's operations.

In lieu of commenting, the Sistah Sistah Foundation released a statement on Twitter expressing dismay that the march, which it claims was supposed to highlight sexual violence against women, has been twisted into awful waves of hostility in public discourse, particularly online.

According to the group, the four suspects were freed on police bond on Wednesday and are expected to appear in court soon. Three people are under investigation for allegedly providing false information to a public official; if convicted, each faces up to seven years in prison.

Mwangala Monde, the group's co-founder, is also facing charges of unlawful assembly and, if proven guilty, may spend an extra six months in prison.

In addition, the statement claims that many people pay little attention to sexual violence against women and girls since it has become so common. Most of the recorded incidents of gender-based violence in the fourth quarter of 2022 involved female victims, and police statistics show that over 20,000 such incidents were reported.

Around three hundred people participated in the march over the weekend, sparking a heated debate in Zambia. Many have accused the Sistah Sistah march of advocating Gay rights and have called for the group to be outlawed.

Others said that it was high time Zambians were allowed to debate the matter and determine its future course.

Zambia's chief government spokeswoman, Chushi Kasanda, issued a statement following the march in which she strongly criticized the gathering for its stated goal of advancing LGBTQ rights in the country.

The penal code outlaws "carnal knowledge against the order of nature" and "gross indecency," which includes sexual conduct between people of the same sex. The maximum sentence under the statute, which was enacted during the time of British colonial rule, is fourteen years in prison.