Three Christian bodies have been granted permission to join a Constitutional Court case challenging the law that criminalizes same-sex relationships.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, Council of Churches in Zambia, and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia will oppose a petition filed by the Zambia Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU) and Isaac Mwanza, seeking to decriminalize homosexuality, citing human rights violations.
Justice Mathew Chisunka ruled that the Christian bodies have sufficient interest in the outcome of the petition and their participation is necessary to ensure that all issues raised are thoroughly adjudicated.
He stated that the principles of morality, ethics, human dignity, and non-discrimination are at the heart of the petition, and the church has a primary function to safeguard these values.
The petition seeks to declare Section 155(c) of the Penal Code Act unconstitutional, arguing that it discriminates against individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity.
The ZCLU and Mwanza claim that this section violates human rights and advances inequality.
Judge Chisunka’s ruling noted that the church has a widely recognised duty to act as a guardian of public morality, ethics, and human dignity.
The judge stated that the Christian bodies’ participation in the case is necessary to ensure that these principles are protected and that the court has a comprehensive understanding of the issues at stake.
