UN condemns Zambian president for pardoning Kanene

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General Kanene

United Nations (UN) has strongly criticized Malawi’s neighboring  Zambian President Edgar Lungu for pardoning musician Clifford Dimba, popularly known as

General Kanene
General Kanene: Got pardoned. (In orange)

, who raped a 14 year-old girl.

President Lungu pardoned Kanene after serving one year of his 18-year sentence and then appointed him as an ambassador in the fight against gender based violence.

Since Kanene was pardoned by President Lungu, he has been reported to have assaulted two women.

In a statement, UN special rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Šimonović, has described Kanene’s release and appointment as outrageous.

The statement say the release of Kanene has traumatised the victim all over again and discouraged women from reporting rape.

The statement further say Lungu’s decision to appoint Kanene as an ambassador in the fight against gender violence undermines the strong message sent against sexual abuse of young children and women made by the original sentence.