What’s Zimbabwe’s Real Position on Homosexuality ?

The Nigerian parliament recently passed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill 2011 [SSMB]. This move resulted in a lot of discussions about the bill.

While some people were appalled by the passing of this law the majority of Nigerians defended the Bill. Nigeria has an estimated 1-3 million gays and lesbians that’s a population about the size of Harare, that’s a lot of homosexuals if you ask me.

The move by the Nigerians got me thinking what Zimbabwe’s real position on homosexuality was. Most Zimbabweans’ I know tend to vocalize their homophobia very loudly, if you doubt this look at what people say about homosexuals on their Facebook profiles.

There are a few African countries where Gays and Lesbians are legal or allowed to operate as a group. I know a country where it is believed that it is illegal be a homosexual but the same country allows homosexuals to form an association with members who meet regularly organize functions and have a good old party.

Take one easy guess what that country is and no it’s not South Africa. For those that did not know, Zimbabwe has a Gays and Lesbian Association.

From the little law I studied this contradiction in what the laws of the land says and what people can do tells me that the position of Zimbabwe on homosexuality from a legal standpoint is a hazy one.

While the Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe offices are raided by Police once in a while its pretty much business as usual at The Galz offices. Compared to other African states Zimbabwe is rather liberal when it comes to this matter from a legally context.

We actually are not as hardcore traditionalists as a nation as we think we are. Those are just the facts.