The Lusaka High Court has granted a Lusaka resident an order compelling the Registrar General of Births and Deaths to change her birth records from female to male after medical tests proved she was in fact male.

This case marks a turning point in the history of the country with regards to sexual and gender identity – a subject that has long been considered taboo in Zambia.

Hellen Sibanda, who has lived his entire life believing he was female due to the physiological appearance of his genitalia, was seeking to assume the correct gender as determined by medical experts and scientific evidence.

Following the landmark judgment delivered by High Court judge Betty Majula-Mung’omba, Hellen will now legally change his name to Rick Sibanda Nkuba and all his legal documents will be changed to bear the male gender.

“Hellen Sibanda, the applicant in this matter has for several years now labored under the belief that she is female. This is as a result of the fact that she was born with a defect known as disorder of sex development (DSD). As a result of this, all her records such as the birth record, certificates, driving license and educational certificates bear her as being that of a female,” read judge Majula-Mung’omba’s judgment.

Judge Betty Mujala-Mung’omba also ordered the Examinations Council of Zambia and all schools which Hellen had attended to change his certificates to reflect that of a male. Read more via Kuchu Times