Zimbabwe: Ruling Party Pledges to Crack Down on LGBTIQ+ Community

In a distressing development, Zanu-PF, the governing party in Zimbabwe, has doubled down on its historically regressive anti-LGBTIQ+ stance, vowing to intensify the enforcement of the ban on homosexuality.

This position was among the resolutions adopted at the party’s 21st National People’s Conference. While the gathering was held in October 2024, MambaOnline was only recently made aware of the decisions taken at the meeting.

Under resolutions adopted in the category of Youth Affairs and Sport, the delegates resolved to “tighten and enforce the laws against homosexuality and other social ills.”

First introduced as a colonial-era criminalisation, same-sex relationships are illegal in Zimbabwe and carry penalties of up to a year in prison and a fine. The country’s 2013 Constitution also explicitly bans same-sex marriage.

The latest resolution dashes hopes that, following the decades of virulent and oppressive homophobia under the late former President Robert Mugabe, Zanu-PF could adopt a more progressive stance on sexual minorities.

Chester Samba, Director of Zimbabwean LGBTIQ+ organisation GALZ, said he was unsurprised by the resolution, pointing out that this has been a consistent Zanu-PF policy.

His most pressing concern for the country’s LGBTIQ+ community is the threat of a sustained drought.

“That will exacerbate poverty and hunger levels, and politicians tend to use the gay card effectively to distract citizens from these issues. [For example] that gays, same-sex marriage etc. cause droughts… so the rhetoric will likely increase,” explained Samba.

Zimbabwean actor and queer activist Frank Malaba told MambaOnline that he was frustrated by the lack of change and progress in the ruling party.

“Zanu-PF has shown time and time again that it doesn’t have any interest in the protection of or respect for minorities or allowing themselves room to learn,” he said.

“We need to keep finding ways of getting into a room with them and finding common ground if there’s any to be found. My hopes are slowly waning. I hope they prove me wrong and come to their senses,” Malaba added.

In September last year, two men were arrested on sodomy charges in the capital, Harare, after seeking police assistance to resolve a domestic dispute.