Last edited: April 23, 2007

Zimbabwe

• Statute:
• Penalty: 3 years
• Restrictions: Men only

Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe's government has made it a criminal offense for two people of the same sex to hold hands, hug, or kiss. The "sexual deviancy" law is one of 15 additions to Zimbabwe's criminal code quietly passed in Parliament in July 2006. The sections involving gays and lesbians are part of an overhaul of the sodomy laws. Until now laws against sodomy were limited to sexual activity. The revised law now states that sodomy is any "act involving contact between two males that would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act".

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News

• Zimbabwe Parliament Lashes Out Against Homosexual Remark - The Advocate, December 8, 2006
• South Africa Gay Marriages Spark Homophobic Outcry In Zimbabwe - 365Gay.com, December 7, 2006
• Gays Barred from UN Sponsored Zimbabwe Human Rights Meeting - 365Gay.com, September 22, 2006
  The 3-day meeting taking place in Kariba was organized following UN concerns about human rights abuses in the African nation. The meetings are expected to lay the groundwork for an independent Human Rights Commission in Zimbabwe.
• Gay Book Stall Destroyed in Zimbabwe - The Advocate, August 9, 2006
  Suspected state security agents destroyed literature and a booth belonging to the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe over the weekend at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair in Harare.
• Gay, Lesbian Stand at Zimbabwe Book Fair Trashed - Cape Argus on Independent Online, August 8, 2006
  A stand run by gays and lesbians at Zimbabwe's International Book Fair in Harare has been destroyed.
• Mugabe Targets Gays, Again - Gay.com UK, July 21, 2006
  As many Western countries continue to expand rights for gay men and lesbians, many African nations are going the opposite direction with legislation to further curtail their already restricted rights.
• New Laws in Africa Further Restrict Gays - Gay.com, July 20, 2006
• Same-Sex Handholding Now Illegal in Zimbabwe - 365Gay.com, July 17, 2006
  Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe's government has made it a criminal offense for two people of the same sex to hold hands, hug, or kiss.
  The "sexual deviancy" law is one of 15 additions to Zimbabwe's criminal code quietly passed in Parliament last week.
  The sections involving gays and lesbians are part of an overhaul of the sodomy laws. Until now laws against sodomy were limited to sexual activity.
  The revised law now states that sodomy is any "act involving contact between two males that would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act".
• Life Slowly Improving For Zimbabwe Gays Activist Says - The Associated Press in 365Gay.com, July 7, 2006
• Zimbabwe Coup Plot Claim is Mugabe "Fairy Tale" - Peter Tatchell, March 14, 2006
• British Gay Rights Leader Accused of Orchestrating Zimbabwe Coup Attempt - 365Gay.com, March 10, 2006
• Mugabe Threatens to Arrest Pro-Gay Clergy - 365Gay.com, February 24, 2006
• Fed Appeals Court Asylum Outrage - Gay City News, December 22, 2005
• Zimbabwe Gay Group Wins International Award - afrol News, January 28, 2005
• Msipa Quits Board Over Gay Spat - August 6, 2004
• Gays Flee Zimbabwe Mob - August 4, 2004
• ‘Mugabe’s Spokesman is Gay’ - June 23, 2004
• Zimbabwe Gays: ‘Dogs and Pigs’ No More? - May 24, 2004
• Former Zimbabwe Leader Denied Hero’s Burial - November 19, 2003
• Former African Leader Banana Is Dead - November 11, 2003
• Mugabe to Root Out Gays - July 2, 2002
• Outed in Africa - April 5, 2002
• Outed Zimbabwe Official Quits - April 4, 2002
• Zimbabwe Media Chief Quits Before Probe - April 3, 2002
• Zimbabwe Broadcast Chief Faces Probe - April 2, 2002
• Mugabe Attacks Britain, Gays at Campaign Rally - February 3, 2002
• Zimbabwe’s Banana’s Appeal Fails - May 30, 2000
• Ex-Zimbabwe Leader Ordered Jailed - May 29, 2000
• Ex-President Jailed in Zimbabwe - May 29, 2000
• Homosexual and Hated - May 10, 2000
• Banana Appeals Conviction in ZIM - March 6, 2000
• Gay Broadcast Sparks Heated Debate In Zimbabwe - November 5, 1999
• Zimbabwe Gays Seek Rights - October 25, 1999
• GALZ Wants Homosexuality Enshrined In New Constitution - October 25, 1999
• Gays Seek Legal Recognition In Zimbabwe - October 24, 1999
• Fighting for Gay Rights in Zimbabwe - October 23, 1999
• African Gays Face Uphill Battle to Acceptance - December 11, 1998
• Ex-president flees Zimbabwe - November 27, 1998
• Zimbabwe’s Banana Found Guilty - November 26, 1998
• Mugabe Urges Zimbabwe Press To Campaign Against Gays - June 27, 1998
• Banana Trial Ends in Zimbabwe - June 25, 1998
• Zimbabwe: Gay Activist Arrested, Faces Prison Under Sodomy Law - June 23, 1998
• GALZ leader charged with sodomy - June 17, 1998
• Gays fear lurid case could harm them - June 14, 1998
• Zimbabwe Censorship Criticized - June 11, 1998
• In Homophobic Zimbabwe, Ex-President on Trial for Sodomy - June 11, 1998
• Being a 'faggot' in homophobic Zimbabwe - June 9, 1998
• Dube Continues in Banana Trial - June 4, 1998
• Zimbabwe's Mugabe Lashes out at Homosexuals - April 23, 1998

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Advocates

• Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
  Physical Address: 35 Colenbrander Road, Milton Park, Harare, Zimbabwe
  Postal Address: Private Bag A6131, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
  Tel/fax: (int + 263-4) 741736
  Crisis Line: 111 404 348.
  galz@samara.co.zw

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