UN rights experts fault new Zambian envoy over rape
Zambian President Edgar Lungu. Lungu pardoned Dimba last July after the singer had served one year of his sentence. The pardon came following Dimba’s recording of a song, Ulemu, that urged respect for President Lungu. PHOTO|NMG
What you need to know:
Clifford Dimba, a pop singer who performs under the name General Kanene, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2013 after being convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl.
Lusaka, Wednesday. United Nations human rights experts have urged the government of Zambia to withdraw the appointment of a convicted rapist as the country’s ambassador in the campaign against gender violence.
Clifford Dimba, a pop singer who performs under the name General Kanene, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2013 after being convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl.
But Zambian President Edgar Lungu pardoned Dimba last July after the singer had served one year of his sentence.
The pardon came following Dimba’s recording of a song, Ulemu, that urged respect for President Lungu.
“Such an outrageous release and appointment as an ambassador for the fight against gender-based violence not only traumatises the victim all over again but discourages other victims from reporting similar offences,” said Dubravka Simonovic, UN special rapporteur on violence against women.
Another UN human rights expert -- Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, special rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography -- joined Ms Simonovic in denouncing Dimba’s appointment.
“The pardon has meant impunity for an abhorrent crime and his subsequent appointment as ambassador for the fight against such violence is more than cynical and adds insult to injury for the victim,” Ms de Boer-Buquicchio said.
Since his release from prison, Dimba has allegedly been involved in two other instances of violence against women, the UN noted in the statement issued on Tuesday.
Pardoning Dimba is incompatible with Zambia’s international human rights obligations and with President Lungu’s role as a champion for UN women’s campaign He for She, the experts added.
The two UN rights advocates called on the Zambian government not only to withdraw Dimba’s appointment but also to ensure that there are no further pardons for such crimes against woman and girls. (AFP)
