Last week we reported on the alleged sodomy case involving former Matabeleland Rugby boss, businessman and socialite Tapiwa Mangezi. The debate ensuing from these allegations has opened Pandora’s box as more prominent people are being named in cases of abusing power and influence by forcing the poverty stricken men into homosexuality.
It has also been brought to light that Lloyd Machanjaira who is said to be Mangezi’s boyfriend is a Rugby coach at Petra school in Bulawayo. Score of concerned citizens contacted this publication raising the issue of safety of the school kids coached by Machanjaira. There are fears that he may target and influence minors into homosexuality and even groom them.
Such cases albeit they be detested by society in Zimbabwe are not new. In the past there have been high profile cases of sodomy and one of the most prominent was the case of Canaan Sodindo Banana who once served as the President of Zimbabwe. Other names such as the late government minister John Landa Nkomo also became talking points in the on going conversations and debate around how the rich and influential in Zimbabwe have been practicing sodomy and initiating the desperate poor into homosexual acts.
“One of the things that most Zimbabweans agreed with Robert Mugabe on was his stance on homosexuality. What is happening now is unclear and we can see that corruption is not only in the financial system but our morals are being corrupted too we are seeing a lot of homosexuality and sodomy cases go unchecked because the perpetrators are rich and famous.” Said one concerned citizen.
A Christian leader who chose to speak to this publication on condition of anonymity said “The Bible clearly and explicitly condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). And the Bible strongly condemns rape, as well (Deuteronomy 22:25-27). So, clearly, the Bible condemns sodomy in the sense of male homosexual rape.
Zimbabwe currently has laws on the books outlawing anal sex between two consenting, unrelated adults—referred to variously as “deviate sexual conduct,” “the infamous crime against nature,” “sodomy,” and “buggery.” And it’s taken a concerted effort to keep those laws on the books.
There have however, been attempts to led the nation to accept homosexuality but the largely christian and traditional people in Zimbabwe still frown upon the practice.
