The African culture moral fabric is under threat amid growing perpetuation of western influence by foreign powers in advancing same sex marriages which outlawed and criminalized in most of the 54 countries in the continent including Kenya save for South Africa and the new entrant, Namibia.
Last month and in 2023, United Kingdom embassy in Nairobi was criticised for violating Kenya’s societal norms and value system by hoisting LGBTQ flag at their Nairobi residence.
In yesterday’s landmark ruling that manifest this cultural retrogression, Namibia has ruled as unconstitutional laws banning same-sex acts between men.
Similarly, no laws exist prohibiting sex between women in Namibia.
Effectively, Namibia will have no laws outlawing offences of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences”.
Currently, South Africa is the only African country that performs and recognises same-sex marriage, and Namibia is the only other which legally recognizes same-sex marriages performed abroad.
However, marrying someone of the same sex is still illegal in the southern African nation.
But if a same-sex couple weds abroad and one of them is not a Namibian citizen, their union is legally recognised.
Yesterday’s controversial judgement was read out at a high court in the capital, Windhoek as campaigners for the LGBTQ group Equal Namibia shared photos of people hugging in court.
“Welcome to a new Namibia. A born-free Namibia,” the group said on social media.
The term “born-free” was most famously used in neighbouring South Africa to describe the first generation of children growing up in the dawn of democracy after white-minority rule ended in 1994.
This court case was brought by a Namibian activist called Friedel Dausab, with backing from the British Charity Human Dignity Trust.
“It won’t be a crime to love anymore.” Dausab is quoted as having said while reacting to the verdict. “I no longer feel like a criminal on the run in my own country simply because of who I am.” He added.
The UN has also applauded the ruling, calling it a “powerful step” towards a more inclusive nation that would also improve access to health services and HIV treatment.
Fearing a backlash to the ruling, the rights group Amnesty International is urging the Namibian government to ensure the safety and dignity of LGBTQ people.
It said it had already documented instances of “alarming” and “threatening” speech in the country during the run-up to the court case.
Namibia, first colonised by Germany, gained independence from South Africa in 1990 after a protracted war.
Several nations in Africa have repealed anti-LGBTQ laws in recent years, but South Africa is the only country where same-sex couples can marry and adopt.
