The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, has dismissed claims that he held talks with the USA on gay rights.
During his recent trip to the United Nations general assembly in New York, Mr. Hichilema, was accused of holding talks with US Vice President, Kamala Harris, on gay rights, according to local media reports.
But he has come out to deny holding such talks. Zambia has outlawed same-sex marriage.
In a televised press briefing on Thursday, September 30, 2021, President Hichilema “We did not go there to talk about lesbian rights. We did not go for that. This is a point I want to make emphatically.”
He addressed the press conference in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, after being challenged to clarify on his itinerary during the trip.
According to him, the Zambian Constitution was clear on issues of gay and lesbian rights.
In December 2019, the US had to recall its ambassador to Zambia amid a diplomatic row after he criticised the imprisonment of a gay couple. The ambassador was accused by the Zambian government of attempting to dictate policy.
