Zambia’s president has made homosexuality a campaign issue to distract attention from the fact that his people are starving, millions are living in poverty, and the nation is buried in international debt, says Zambian-American human rights researcher the Rev. Kapya Kaoma. Zambian President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) party has been campaigning for reelection by emphasizing his opposition to homosexuality. In particular, the essay responds to an unsuccessful motion by Zambian member of parliament Martin Malama to ban political parties that favor LGBT rights. The motion targeted Hakainde Hichilema (HH), a repeatedly unsuccessful presidential candidate who leads the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND). HH allegedly took the position that LGBT Zambians have human rights. His party promptly denied those reports. despite its association with the African Liberal Network, which supports LGBT rights