Mugabe attacks Gays, yet his journalists is one

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One of President Robert Mugabe’s chief journalists Robert Mukondiwa who was reportedly caught in the act of gay intimacy while at work and also on a trip with the president continues to enjoy immunity just as Zimbabwe’s aging ruler on Wednesday declared that “homosexuals and lesbians will be punished severely.”

Mugabe said that the homosexual and lesbian population will be punished severely for their behaviour which is  inconsistent with African and Christian values.

Mukondiwa has continued to edit the H Metro website unhindered and has not been called for any disciplinary hearing since his offences came to light, sources at Zimpapers have said. The juourno’s last article was penned and published on the 22nd November this month.

Mugabe was quoted making the remarks at the launch of the Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust at Unki Mine.

Said the President: “Do not get tempted into that (homosexuality). You are young people. Mukaenda ikoko(if yuo go there) we will punish you severely.”

Mugabe criticised British Prime Minister David Cameron who recently said that London will not aid countries that do not respect gay rights.

“It becomes worse and Satanic when you get a Prime Minister like Cameron saying countries that want British aid should accept homosexuality.

“To come with that diabolical suggestion to our people is a stupid offer,” Mugabe said.

He added: “Chambopinda mumisoro yevarungu chii? Kuti vari kutadza zvinoitwa nenhunzi nemapete ese? Izvi hazvipo patsika dzedu kana yechiKristo.

Mugabe’s journalist, Mukondiwa has continued to write and edit for state media newspapers The Herald and the H Metro despite crossing Mugabe’s code of public of conduct in August when he was caught in the act of gay intimacy with a Namibian man while on a trip with Mugabe in the Southern African country.

When asked by a friend if he was going anywhere after the incident, Mukondiwa said he was not going anywhere: ”Hapana kwandiri kuenda ini. Handiende zvachose. I live forever shamwari,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has called British Prime Minister David Cameron “satanic” for considering withholding aid from countries that do not respect gay rights, state media said on Thursday.

“It becomes worse and satanic when you get a prime minister like Cameron saying countries that want British aid should accept homosexuality,” Mugabe said in a speech on Wednesday in the mining town of Shurugwi, 300 kilometres south of Harare.

“To come with that diabolic suggestion to our people is a stupid offer,” he said, according to the state-run Herald newspaper.

At the end of the Commonwealth summit in October, Cameron said that countries receiving British aid should respect human rights, including gay rights.

The issue has re-emerged as Zimbabwe drafts a new constitution, with debate on whether to follow neighbouring South Africa’s model and include gay rights in the charter.

Mugabe has for decades ranted against homosexuality, and in his latest speech again threatened to punish gay Zimbabweans.

“Do not get tempted into that (homosexuality). You are young people. If you go that direction, we will punish you severely,” Mugabe said “It is condemned by nature. It is condemned by insects and that is why I have said they are worse than pigs and dogs,” he said, according to The Herald.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who formed a unity government with Mugabe in 2009, has said that he supports gay rights but that gays should “do their things in private”.

More recently he said that the people of Zimbabwe will decide what they want in their constitution, which will clear the way for new elections.

The constitution process is running more than a year behind schedule, with a referendum on the charter expected only next year.