Harare man stoned to death at Boka bus terminus over gay slur… Police unearthed a massive gay whatsapp group

A 32-year-old Harare man, Maxwell Mahanzu, was stoned to death on Tuesday, 6 January 2025, at the Boka Bus terminus along the Harare-Masvingo Road, following a homophobic slur directed at his attacker. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBT+ community in Zimbabwe, where societal attitudes towards homosexuality remain deeply conservative.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the incident via their official X account. Their statement read: “On January 6, 2025, police in Harare arrested Benedict Rueben in connection with a case of murder which occurred at Boka Bus terminus along Harare–Masvingo Road. The suspect hit the victim, Maxwell Mahanzu, 32, with a stone after the victim mocked him, claiming that he was a gay since he was wearing earrings. The victim died on the spot.”

The killing underscores the precarious position of LGBT+ individuals in Zimbabwean society. While homosexuality is accepted in many Western nations, it remains a highly sensitive and often taboo subject within Zimbabwe. For many, being labelled “gay” is considered a profound insult, capable of inciting violent reactions.

This deeply rooted social stigma has historical context. Former President Robert Mugabe frequently condemned homosexuality, often using the issue as a point of contention against the British government, whom he accused of interference in Zimbabwean affairs. This rhetoric contributed to a climate of intolerance and discrimination against LGBT+ individuals.

The tragic death of Maxwell Mahanzu is not an isolated incident. The past year has witnessed a series of cases highlighting the ongoing tensions between Zimbabwean law and the lived experiences of its LGBT+ community. A major police investigation in Harare last October uncovered a large WhatsApp group, “Private Lounge,” with over 1,000 members, allegedly promoting same-sex relationships.

This investigation stemmed from 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. Police reports indicate the pair met through the “Private Lounge” group. The teenager’s father discovered compromising messages on his son’s phone, leading to the report to the police. Zimbabwean police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests and the ongoing investigation into the WhatsApp group, stating: “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.”

Further cases illustrate the challenges faced by LGBT+ individuals in Zimbabwe. Last year, Tavimbanashe Chawatama (28) and Leonard Nyakudya (25) appeared in Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with engaging in consensual same-sex relations. Their arrest followed a dispute over missing money, inadvertently revealing their relationship.

Similarly, two inmates at Khami Maximum Prison in Bulawayo, Godwin Dlomo and Gilbert Shonai, were charged with engaging in consensual anal sex after an incident reported by Shonai to prison guards.

In August, three inmates at Harare Central Remand Prison – Kingswell Ngwerume (32), Kudakwashe Mazorodze (35), and Lazurus Chinobhururuka (40) – faced charges of aggravated indecent assault after allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a fellow inmate.