Chronicle Editor
Chronicle Reporter
A GWABALANDA man is in trouble after his neighbours raised alarm for his hosting of illegal meetings in his place of residence.
The man is said to have now been popular in Bulawayo after he turned his house into a shebeen where he would host mainly people from the gays and lesbian communities.
Same sex relationships are illegal in Zimbabwe although a number of people within these circles have been constituting themselves and holding illegal meetings in various localities.
Mr Zwelempi Maphosa is reported to have taken advantage of the emergence of these communities turning his place of residency into a shebeen that would especially host these illegal parties.
“The shebeen initially began as one where neighbours would gather for drinks but all things turned for the worst when he (Mr Maphosa) started to host gay parties where gays and lesbians would gather and hold these noisy parties.
“Residents tried to engage him but he turned a blind eye instead arguing that he was running a business and was not discriminating anyone,” said a neighbor who identified himself as Mr Moyo.
Close associated of Mr Maphosa however revealed that while people felt he was hosting exclusive gay parties this was not true but instead his was an all-inclusive business.
“As it is he has been forced to shut down the business as he was now being a subject of raids by the police but what people do not realise is that he was one person who would host everyone and not discriminate, guess that was his crime. As is he has gone into hiding as he says he fears for his life knowing the government’s stance on gays and lesbians,” said the friend who declined to be named.
The police confirmed having received a complaint from neighbours over the illegal parties.
“What we noted is that as police we have been receiving numerous complaints on the operations of that shebeen, that they were now posing a public nuisance through their illegal parties,” said the police in a statement.
Zimbabwe is one of the least accepting countries in the world for gay, lesbian and transgender people.
According to popular belief, however, homosexuality is a crime. An uninformed media exacerbates this attitude. Homophobic statements by government leaders contribute to a misinformed, highly discriminatory socio-political environment.
Zimbabwe is no exception.
Homosexuality is outlawed in 35 African countries and punishable by death in two countries, Mauritania and Sudan, as well as in some areas of Somalia and Nigeria, according to Amnesty International.
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