By Daniel Itai.
Washington D.C, America. (News of The South) -America has withdrawn Daniel Foote, America’s Ambassador to Zambia, following tensions over his criticism of the country’s treatment of homosexuality.
Zambia’s High court last month jailed a male gay couple for 15 years for engaging in sexual relations against the order of nature, a decision the former Ambassador said was horrifying.
On December 15, Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu, sent a protest letter to America demanding the recall of Daniel Foote.
“We are dismayed by the Zambian government’s statement that Ambassador Foote’s position is no longer tenable, which we consider being the equivalent of a declaration that the Ambassador is persona non grata.
Despite this action, the United States remains committed to our partnership with the Zambian people.
We seek an open and frank relationship of mutual respect, commensurate with the generous aid provided to the Zambian people by the United States.
The United States firmly opposes abuses against LGBTI persons. Governments have an obligation to ensure that all people can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled,” read a statement issued out by the American government.
“People can disagree philosophically about homosexuality, but no person should ever be subject to criminal penalties because they are gay,” said America’s Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell.
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