A major police investigation in Harare has unearthed a sprawling network allegedly promoting same-sex relationships, highlighting the ongoing tension between Zimbabwe’s laws and the realities of its LGBT+ community.
The investigation began with the arrest of a 25-year-old man and a teenage boy in Highfield on October 7th, 2024, for allegedly engaging in a same-sex relationship. Their connection, police say, stemmed from a WhatsApp group named “Private Lounge,” boasting over 1,000 members.
The 25-year-old, an employee at a local supermarket residing in New Canaan, Highfield, and the teenage Form Four student from Glen Norah B Extension, reportedly met through the group. The teenager, who joined the group in January 2024, initiated contact seeking a partner.
The man, already a member, responded, leading to a meeting at Machipisa Shopping Centre and, eventually, an intimate relationship beginning in May at the man’s residence.
The teenager’s father discovered compromising messages on his son’s phone, prompting him to block the man’s number. However, the man persisted, attempting to contact the boy using his mother’s number.
This persistent contact prompted the father to report the matter to the police, leading to the arrests. The adult male remains in custody, while the teenager was released into his parents’ care pending further investigation.
Zimbabwean police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests and the ongoing investigation into the WhatsApp group.
“We confirm that we have picked up two suspects who have assisted us in uncovering a homosexual WhatsApp group with over 1,000 members. Investigations are still ongoing,” Commissioner Nyathi stated.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) alleges the men lived together, engaged in consensual sexual acts, and even recorded these acts on their mobile phones. Their arrest followed a dispute over missing money, which led them to involve the police and inadvertently reveal their relationship.
The incident, which occurred on June 8th, 2024, came to light when Shonai, serving a sentence for rape, reported anal pain and disclosed the sexual encounter to prison guards. They appeared before Westcommonage Magistrate Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe and were remanded in custody.
They allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a 20-year-old fellow inmate. The assault involved the alleged use of force and the administration of a substance that left the victim disoriented. The trio appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on August 22nd.
These cases, along with the discovery of the “Private Lounge” WhatsApp group, underscore the ongoing challenges surrounding LGBT+ rights in Zimbabwe.
A statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet accused foreign entities of attempting to impose “alien, anti-life, unAfrican, and unChristian values” on Zimbabwean students. The government has urged schools and institutions to reject such scholarships and encouraged students to pursue state-sanctioned grants.
