Zambian singer Clifford Dimba was sentenced to 18 years’ jail in 2014 for raping a 14-year-old girl – a rare conviction in a country rife with child sex abuse.
But earlier this year, one year into his sentence, he was pardoned for the horrific crime after he wrote a flattering song about President Edgar Lungu.
Not only was he released from prison 17 years early, but he was also appointed as an “ambassador in the fight against gender violence”.
Four days after his release, Dimba – known as General Kanene – allegedly assaulted one of his three wives (polygamy is legal and common practice in Zambia) for refusing to have sex with him.
Three months later, he was arrested again for allegedly assaulting a 32-year-old woman he claims was a prostitute.
Still, his title remains.
Check out one of his performances from prison, where he says he raised awareness of gender violence:
Now, United Nations human rights experts have called on the Zambian Government to revoke the “outrageous” appointment and stop pardoning crimes against women and girls, The Independent reports.
“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,” UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women Dubravka Šimonović said.
“The pardon and appointment undermine the strong message against sexual abuse of women and girls that was sent with the original sentence and trivialise the serious nature of these offences.”
“Rather, Clifford Dimba has been placed in a prominent position and even portrayed as a role model to fight violence against women.”
You’d almost be hard-pressed to find a worse ambassador.
Top Comments
His Eminence George Pell, with friends in high places, was appointed Archbishop at the height of the paedophile scandal where he dutifully implemented "protocols" which obfuscated the extent of the crime and apportioned blame to the victim of the crime, actively engaged in covering up the crime, intimidating the victims, and then LIED about it. WHERE IS THE UN's OUTRAGE IN THE ROLE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH of the systematic abuse of children?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
http://kangaroocourtofaustr...
Yes you have a good point.
In fact so many religious organisations get funding for mental health initiatives yet what if your problem was actually caused by religion? The Catholic Church in particular have their finger in just about every government funding pie yet they have caused widespread misery in terms of sex abuse, physical abuse, as well as historically they were responsible for the inquisition etc yet governments throw money at them and as a taxpayer I am funding them too. Might as well give the Mafia (mostly good Catholics as well) money to run schools and hospitals and retirement homes etc if rape, assault and murder is what clinches the funding!
Wow...