Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
Police in Harare have uncovered a 1,000-member gay syndicate operating through a WhatsApp group known as “Private Lounge,” which is allegedly promoting illegal relationships. This revelation follows the arrest of a 25-year-old man and a teenager in Highfield who were involved in an illicit gay relationship.
The adult suspect, who resides in the New Canaan area of Highfield and works at a local supermarket, was apprehended alongside the teenage boy, a Form Four student living in Glen Norah B Extension. Investigations revealed that the teenager joined the gay WhatsApp group in January 2024, where he introduced himself and expressed his desire to find a partner. It is alleged that the man, already a member of the group, contacted him, leading to an agreement to meet at Machipisa Shopping Centre.
In May, the teenager reportedly visited the man’s home, where they consumed drinks before becoming intimate. However, the situation escalated when the teenager’s father discovered love messages on his son’s cellphone sent by the man and subsequently blocked his contact number.
On Monday, October 7, 2024, the man attempted to reach the teenager using his mother’s phone number, prompting the father to inform the police about the situation. This led to the arrest of both individuals, with the man taken into custody while the teenager was released to his parents as investigations continue.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, stating,
“We confirm that we have picked up two suspects who have assisted us to unearth a gay and homosexual WhatsApp group with more than 1,000 participants who have been meeting at various places and houses in Harare. Investigations are still in progress.”
It is important to note that gay relationships are illegal in Zimbabwe. In February, the government issued a warning to organizations that were allegedly luring youths into homosexuality through educational scholarships, stating that they would face legal consequences.
These so-called LGBT scholarships were condemned by the government as unlawful and unChristian.
In a recent statement, the government criticized foreign interests for attempting to entice Zimbabwean students into what it described as “alien, anti-life, unAfrican and unChristian values.” The Office of the President and Cabinet denounced the scholarship offers, asserting that they were a serious affront to the nation’s values and a direct challenge to Zimbabwe’s authority.
The government has instructed schools and higher education institutions not to entertain applications or enroll individuals associated with or promoting LGBT values. Youths have been urged to seek educational support from government-sanctioned grants and scholarships instead.
Zim GBC News©2024