Organizers of the disgraced Lusaka July, PR Media says their event is being sponsored by the New Dawn Government under the Ministry of Tourism.
Responding to statement by Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba who said the event has been transformed from a fashion show to a staging post and open platform for the LGBTQ community, PR Media said their event was not promoting gay rights but Zambian culture.
But PR Media says Mr. Mwamba had met them in the Pretoria office in 2018 and encouraged them to continue growing the event and were surprised by his attack. But Mr. Mwamba said he thought the organizer’s wanted to replicate the Royal Ascot in England or the Durban July which combines equestrian sport with fashion.
"Clearly when I met the sisters Monde and Chishimba Nyambe, promoters of the Lusaka July in my office in 2018, the event was far from being a Pride Parade or an LGBTQ Platform." said Amb.Mwamba
"So, my recent opinion, where I have called on the adherence to national values and principles and against the conversion of the Lusaka July to an LGBTQ platform, is properly placed". he said.
We are not promoting gay rights-PR Media writes….
I am incredibly disappointed with Ambassador Mwamba’s recent statements on the Lusaka July. We paid a courtesy call on you in 2018 when you were in leadership as the SA Ambassador, specifically to discuss the Lusaka July and the potential it holds to create fashion tourism and increase revenue for the local fashion industry. You said you believed in us but your government FAILED to give us the backing we needed as creative entrepreneurs. The new dawn government has in under a year offered us support to promote this event to an international audience, we have received the support we need to push Zambian fashion past our borders. The effort we are seeing from the new dawn government to support SMEs like us is unprecedented. Why are you politicizing this event now when you are no longer in leadership?Our job is to promote fashion, not gay rights, we encourage our guests to interpret themes according to their personality. If you are concerned about Zambia’s morality, please address it without attacking an event that feeds many families.
Lastly, thanks to the Ministry of Tourism, we are confident that the Lusaka July will soon become one of Africa’s leading fashion events because of your support.
With all due respect Sir, you are out of line.
Chichi PR Girl
