Family search for missing relative

Sunday News Reporter 

A BULAWAYO family is requesting for members of the public to help with information that could lead to the whereabouts of Farai Chiwaka who reportedly when missing last month.

Chiwaka who is a known member of the LGBTIQ community is said to have gone missing after his arrest on allegations that he and his partner were operating a salon that was now constantly holding illegal gay meetings and parties.

However, Chiwaka’s family have revealed that he was not the owner of the salon but it was owned by Vincent Damba who’s family is said to be aligned to the ruling Zanu-PF.

The salon is alleged to have been caught in the eye of the storm after neighbouring shop owners alleged that the salon was now a haven for the LGBTIQ community, who would hold unsanctioned meeting after which they would convene parties at the premise.

“Ours son was arrested together with his partner with police revealing that they were operating the salon as a duo but the truth of the matter is that the salon was owned by Damba and his family. We feel our son was targeted because he did not have any political connections.

“After his arrest, we failed to locate him as the police officers gave us a run around, at the end they told us that Chiwaka had escaped custody with suspicion that he bribed his way out. Now we do not even know where he is and we are now worried hence our appeal for information that could help us locate him,” said Chiwaka’s relative who declined to be named, fearing victimization.

Police confirmed that they were also searching for the whereabouts of Chiwaka claiming he was wanted for questioning in relation to the holding of the unsanctioned meetings at the said salon.

“The accused had been arrested for public nuisance because of activities at his salon after neighbouring shop owners tipped the police off,” said the police source.

Zimbabwe is one of the least accepting countries in the world for gay, lesbian and transgender people. A 2006 revision to the country’s criminal code expanded the penalty for sodomy to include acts that “would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act”.