Back to Index

Update from GALZ
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
August 11, 2011

We bring your attention to the increased number of local press articles speaking to the subject of homosexuality negatively and in ways that are meant to instill fear and cause panic in the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe. During the period June to date, close to ten articles have been produced depicting homosexuality as a scandal and linked to criminal behaviour.

GALZ notes that both The Herald and The Sunday Mail have been running a series of articles which seem to be fabricated reports with no concrete evidence to support its coverage. The articles are not only sensationalist, they are ambiguous and confused in their reporting and there is no attempt to separate out the different issues in most of the articles. The ZBC report of 9 August "Gays arrested" for instance seems to suggest that young poor men were entering into relationships with older, financially stable men in order to survive. By pitting 'young black men' with '55 year old white male', the story implies that all homosexuals, the white man included, are rich pedophiles. The article portrays young men as victims in this case.

The state media seems to be putting the public and the police on the lookout for those perceived to be homosexual as contained in The Sunday Mail In Depth report of 6 August "Gays and lesbians on the loose", states " are the country's laws not adequate enough for the police to stop the act?" it goes on to accuse police of inaction "in thwarting this emerging problem." This is a very worrying trend.

We would like you to take note of this trend and further impress upon you that GALZ remains resolute in advocating for and defending the rights of the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe. We also call on your unwavering support as members and partners to this struggle to be aware of these media machinations that seek to perpetuate stereotypes to the exclusion of homosexuals to engage in meaningful dialogue on the issue.

Visit the GALZ fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP