Zanu (PF) Top Official In Mash West Accused Of Being Gay

Sources within the party revealed that the provincial official [name with-held] has a farm in Mhangura and is currently living with his ‘’male counterpart’’ who is a white farmer.  The Zanu (PF) official is ”wife” in the controversial affair. Sources said the Zanu (PF) official owns a night club in Harare.

Sources claim the official used his political muscle to defend few remaining white farmers from eviction in Mhangura area as it will affect his  ‘’spouse’’.

The sources who include party insiders denied that they are making serious allegations to dethrone him politically.

‘’I have known him for nearly 20 years and it is not a political ambush. His wife, a nurse fled to United Kingdom ten years ago when she failed to ”terminate his affairs” to fellow men. She went to UK to seek solace from her broken down marriage with the gay husband’’ added a party insider who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

‘’During Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee outreach, he was among party members in Kariba, and was reserved on gay rights as it affects him.’’ added another source.

He added that war veterans known for supporting Zanu (PF) stance against gays are silent over the affair.

University of Zimbabwe vice- chancellor and social commentator Professor Gordon Chavhunduka said Zimbabweans must be tolerant, respect individual’s rights and privacy.

‘’There is no need to associate anyone with his political affiliation when it comes to private affair. We must learn to be tolerant. It is up to any individual on how he feels about his life than to castigate him or take them as outcasts’’ said Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association leader.

President Robert Mugabe has condemned gays labelling them as ‘’worse than dogs and pigs and un-African’’.

In August 1995 he said that gays will never be allowed to have freedom in the country.

He said then, ‘’homosexuality degrades human dignity. It is unnatural and there is no question ever of allowing these people to behave worse than dogs and pigs. If dogs and pigs do not do it, why must human beings? We have our own culture and we must rededicate ourselves to our traditional values. What we are being persuaded to accept is sub-human and will never allow it here…’’

According to some Zanu (PF) supporters, the gay rights will only be ”smuggled” into the new constitution with the blessings of Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who insists these rights “must be discreet”.

Zanu (PF)’s Rugare Gumbo said the party position is crystal clear, it “denounces homosexuality” but said they cannot act. He however wanted to have official’s name revealed but we respect his privacy.