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Zambia Acquits Duo Accused of Having Gay Sex
July 3, 2014
The Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Court has acquitted two people accused of practicing homosexuality.
Kabwe-based Magistrate John Mbuzi has acquitted Phillip Mubiana, a 21-year-old bricklayer, and James Mwape, a hairdresser also 21 years old, of the charges saying the State has failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
If the two men had been found guilty they could have faced up to a 15 year sentence in prison.The Magistrate said the Prosecution failed to give proof that the two had engaged in homosexuality, finding that the only evidence brought by the State was hearsay.
The defendants were represented by former Solicitor General State Counsel Sunday Nkonde.
On 25 February 2014, the Lusaka Magistrates Court acquitted gay rights activist Paul Kasonkomona for allegedly soliciting for immoral acts after appearing on live Muvi Television programme dubbed The Assignment advocating gay rights.
The trial of Mubiana and Mwape has attracted international attention from organisations such as Amnesty International as well as comments from foreign embassies who urged the authorities not to discriminate based on sexual orientation.
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We here in America love to complain about not having our full civil rights, and we are justified in our complaints, but I cannot begin to imagine what life for John and Phillip and all our GLBT brothers and sisters in Africa and the rest of the oppressive world must be like.
As we continue our struggle for full equality, I appreciate everything that President Obama and his supporters have helped us achieve in such a short space of time. I hope the remaining two years of his administration will see even more efforts on the diplomatic front to help extend the freedom and right to love the person you love to people everywhere.
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Read John and Phillip's story as reported in their
own country here: Zambia Daily Mail
Learn more about the struggle for freedom in the many countries
around the world where homosexuality is a crime here: 76 Crimes
"Fear Eats the Soul"
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