Zimbabwean churches want Somizi banned from entering the country [full statement]

Zimbabwean churches have said they do not want Somizi to enter the country for an event where he is set to be the Guest Chef at the reopening of Garwe Restaurant in Harare.

The uproar is over the fact the South African socialite is openly gay.

So the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe, has written to government, saying:

RE: KINDLY ASSIST WITH ACTION AGAINST THE COMING OF SOMIZI SOMGAGA TO THE RE-OPENING OF GARWE RESTAURANT AS THE GUEST CHEF
We represent indigenous churches in Zimbabwe and are strongly rooted to our culture and support our revolutionary party. It is after we saw an article in our leading paper “Sunday Mail, 31 October edition” that a South African well known gay, Somizi Mhlongo “Somiz” is coming to Zimbabwe to grace the reopening of Garwe Restaurant on the 4 of November 2021. The church is strongly against such an event in the sense that;
Somiz is a homosexual, hence according to our People’s driven Constitution, Zimbabwe doesn’t tolerate homosexuality. It is therefore our question, if we allow Somiz to come to our land, spiritually we would have been disturbed a lot, and physically we would have openly accepted homosexuality in Zimbabwe hence affecting our children. This move will also affect our revolutionary party ZANU PF by disturbing the 5 million votes win needed in the next 2023 harmonized elections for it is publicly known that our party strongly stands against homosexuality.
After reading the article and spreading the message to all our congregations, they all expressed ingratitude and felt vulnerable for our rights, we feel, we are being violated. We stand firm to announce to you that we don’t support such an event in our land.
Our Bible through which all offices of authority swear upon states on Leviticus 18:22 that “a man must not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is an abomination. There are many Biblical verses, such as Romans 1:26-27, Genesis 18 and 19 which teaches us against homosexuality and its dangers if it is allowed in the nation. Even our African culture as we were taught by our ancestors is against homosexuality. It is therefore that we are requesting for your intervention, either the event being banned or they change their guest chef- of all the chefs in Africa, why would they choose to invite a gay chef? What is the motive behind the event?
If the authorities fail to protect us in time, the Church is currently planning to hold a peaceful demonstration at the airport upon his arrival as well as at the Restaurant. Zimbabwe is a Christian Community and we Indigenous Churches stand firm to our culture for we do not seek any foreign aid.
We are kindly seeking your response within 24 hours immediately after receiving this.