Zambia

NEWS

Zambia's Registrar of Societies continues to refuse to register the gay organization Legatra (Lesbian, Gay and Transgender Association), according to the Gay and Lesbian Times.

Due to this, and other problems, Legatra has been unable to raise money to create a public awareness campaign and challenge the ban on gay-male sex. 'At the moment we are at an impasse', says spokesperson Regina Numwa. Gay men are routinely arrested. The cases are usually dropped for lack of evidence or settled out of court.

Legatra's president has been gay-bashed twice. In one incident, one of his eyes was permanently damaged.

'Zambians are generally not very militant people; and, faced with multiple hostilities, the LGBT community closes ranks', Numwa said. 'Legatra finds it very difficult to organize the LGBT community, as they live in perpetual fear of their lives.'

Capital Lusaka | Population 8.1 million | President of Multi Party Democracy Frederick T J Chiluba | Year of Independence from United Kingdom 1964 | Currency Zambian Kwacha Homosexuality Illegal | Interesting media Daily Mail newspaper, The Monitor newspaper & The Post www.zamnet.zm | Trendsetters monthly www.trendseters.org.zm

Zambian Vice President Christon Tembo has said: 'An association formed to further the interests of homosexuals can never be registered in Zambia. Those who will persist in championing the cause for homosexual activities in Zambia risk being arrested for the felonies of committing criminal acts or for conspiracy to commit criminal acts.'