zim law amendment still blur

By Musa Ngubane (BTM Reporter)

July 28, 2006: Two weeks ago a Zimbabwean newspaper reported an allege extension of the Criminal Law Act modified before and adopted in 1994 in Zimbabwe by parliament.

This amended clause further includes and postulates fifteen new crimes, while redefining sodomy and rape. The offences or crimes extended to hugging or holding hands between same sex individuals as reported in the newspaper.

A BTM correspondent affiliated to Gay And Lesbians of Zimbabwe – known as GALZ (LGBTI organisation in Zimbabwe), says the clause or the law has only been heard on the grapevine but not as a written accepted formal document.

GALZ is looking forward to receive copy of the Act so that it responds responsibly. “As it stands right now, we don’t have any reports of harassment of that sort or any arrests that have been made (regarding the new law)”, the correspondent says. He also made it clear that police and justice need more time to be able to reinforce and digest the law.

Jerry Ndlovu from the city of Bulawayo who identifies himself as MSM – meaning man having sex with other men, said; “When I heard about the new law, I feared for myself and the other friends who are out with their sexual orientation.” Ndlovu is very outraged by the new law that according to him it infringes human rights.

Both Ndlovu and BTM’s correspondent believe that the majority of the citizens are not aware of this amendment of the Act.