Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata has been attacked by government supporters for a speech at Oxford University - supposedly cover for raising money for his party from British LGBT groups.
President Rupiah Banda accused Sata of lying about the 2 May speech.
Henry Mulenga, the Executive Director of The Gallant Youths of Zambia told the Zambian Watchdog:
“We are very disappointed to hear that Mr Sata has travelled to London to seek money from gay activists for his political campaigns. This is very sad news for a Christian nation like Zambia.”Dr Nic Cheeseman, a fellow at Jesus who acted as one of the event’s organisers, said:
“The controversy surrounding Sata’s visit demonstrates the deep politicisation of the media in many African states. On the one hand, the opposition media sent reporters and cameramen to cover the trip, and gave Sata’s talks prominent coverage, seeking to depict him as a responsible leader respected in the west.”Zambia's leadership has been accused of using homosexuality as a wedge issue in that country's 2011 general election. And growing anti-gay activity by church leaders is leading to increased attacks on LGBT people, say local gay leaders, risking Zambia becoming "another Uganda or Senegal."
“Conversely, the rest of the print media, which is broadly aligned with the government, set out to spread rumours about the trip that were deliberately designed to smear Sata’s reputation.”
The Danish Ambassador was forced to deny accusations 12 May that Sata was soliciting for funds from that country in return for Zambia’s recognition of gay rights once the opposition forms government.
Sata told Danish journalists in March that:
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