Zambia's president: Its difficult to understand homosexuality
President Rupiah Banda has said that it is difficult for him to understand
how anybody would tolerate homosexuals in the Zambian society.
Speaking during a meeting with "Champions of an HIV free generation in
African" leaders at State House today, President Banda said it was difficult
for him to decide on whether or not to permit homosexuality in the Zambian
society because of the complexity of the issue.
He said because of its complexity, many politicians and leaders were
emotional about the issue of homosexuality in their countries and observed
that they had greater influence on the issue than Zambians because of the
their financial stance.
"Up to now I cannot understand how anybody should tolerate homosexuals for
instance, but listening to how complex it is just in your mind and you
devoting all your life to this. It makes sense when you explain it that we
should not laugh at these people but sensitize our children about it."
"You can imagine how difficult it is for me when it comes to laws whether or
not to permit homosexuality in our society.What is worse is that our
cooperating partners, who are more influential than us because of their
moneys, actually many of them have come to glorify it, talking to our young
people and making them believe that homosexuality was a human right,"
President Banda said.
He said it was unfortunate that when one tried to oppose homosexuality, such
a person would be termed as ignorant of modernity without an understand the
world.
"But when you see it from the position of the Champions fighting against
HIV, then you will understand why first we should not criminalise them or
laugh at them," he said.
The President however pointed out that there was need to sensitise young
people about `foreign' sexual practices such as homosexuality.
He said such practices called for all influential people and leaders at all
levels of the Zambian society to intensify the fight against the spread of
HIV, especially that the country had recorded a reduction in infection
rates.
Speaking earlier at the same function, former Batswana president Festus
Mogae who is also a member of the "Champions for an HIV free generation"
group, called on leaders to understand people who engage into other
practices of sex and find ways of preventing HIV infections.
Mr. Mogae, said the emphasis should be placed on preventing the spread of
HIV regardless of which forms of sex citizens were involved in.
And former President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda noted that the problem of
HIV/AIDS was getting more complex hence the need to tackle it jointly.
The Champions for an HIV free generation that visited President Banda today
also included, former Vice President of Uganda Dr. Specioza Wandira,
Chairperson of the Kenya National AIDS Control Council Professor Miriam.