Dimba, 30, known as General Kanene, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, but was pardoned by President Lungu in July after spending a year behind bars. After his release, Dimba was involved in two further incidents of violence against women, but according to local media was released on bail.
On top of the reduced sentence, Dimba was appointed the “ambassador in the fight against gender violence,” much to the dismay of the United Nations Council of Human Rights (UNCHR), which issued a statement on Tuesday.
“Such an outrageous release and appointment as an ambassador for the fight against gender-based violence not only traumatizes the victim all over again but discourages other victims from reporting similar offenses,” said Dubravka Šimonovi?, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
She added that the decision of the Zambian president undermined the strong message against sexual violence against women sent by the initial sentence for Dimba.
“Rather, Clifford Dimba has been placed in a prominent position and even portrayed as a role model to fight violence against women,” Šimonovi? said.
The pardon for Dimba means “impunity for an abhorrent crime” and his appointment is “more than cynical and adds insult to injury for the victim,” said another UN human rights expert, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
