News / National
Mugabe will remove homosexualism from the constitution
21 Feb 2012 at 21:43hrs | Views
"Pigs and dogs" he called them, and that was just the beginning of President Robert Mugabe's campaign of abuse of gays.
This year, 16 years after his searing attack, his sentiments about gay people are back in the news.
As Zimbabweans draw up a new constitution, President Mugabe once again reiterated his hatred for homosexuality.
In an interview to mark his 88 birthday, he was asked about what he will do is the draft constitution comes with issues he is not happy with and if he is got authority to remove such issues. Mugabe answered that he will remove the issues.
"Tinoramba (we will remove). Ehe, tinobvisa (yes we will remove). Ko togoregererei?(Why should we leave them) Nhai, nhai, nhai! It's a draft constitution and we will say this we do not want. If for example, you have in the constitution kuti ngavatemwe makumbo, vanenge vaba, ngavatemwe makumbo, Aiwa zve tinoramba (says axe their legs, those who would have stolen must be axed their legs, we will resist)" Mugabe said.
"Kana homosexualism zvese tinobvisa," (Even homosexualism we will remove) he added
Mugabe once attacked gays and lesbians saying "I have no words for them because even dogs would not want to associate with such acts of paganism."
"I have no words to describe gays, you cant call them dogs because even the dogs themselves will not be happy to be associated with such acts of paganism . . . what I have not heard is what vows they exchange with each other when they marry, who do they say they have married and to bear what kind of fruits?" said Mugabe to wild cheers from Zanu PF supporters.
While rights groups denounced his stance, churches and traditionalists rallied around the president.
Bishop Trevor Manhanga, a disciple of the President, declared "the practice of homosexuality is neither human nor right".
"To equate deviant sexual behaviour with the rights of women and children, minorities and other sectors of humanity who have struggled to be afforded certain inalienable basic human rights is nothing short of diabolical."
This year, 16 years after his searing attack, his sentiments about gay people are back in the news.
As Zimbabweans draw up a new constitution, President Mugabe once again reiterated his hatred for homosexuality.
In an interview to mark his 88 birthday, he was asked about what he will do is the draft constitution comes with issues he is not happy with and if he is got authority to remove such issues. Mugabe answered that he will remove the issues.
"Tinoramba (we will remove). Ehe, tinobvisa (yes we will remove). Ko togoregererei?(Why should we leave them) Nhai, nhai, nhai! It's a draft constitution and we will say this we do not want. If for example, you have in the constitution kuti ngavatemwe makumbo, vanenge vaba, ngavatemwe makumbo, Aiwa zve tinoramba (says axe their legs, those who would have stolen must be axed their legs, we will resist)" Mugabe said.
"Kana homosexualism zvese tinobvisa," (Even homosexualism we will remove) he added
Mugabe once attacked gays and lesbians saying "I have no words for them because even dogs would not want to associate with such acts of paganism."
"I have no words to describe gays, you cant call them dogs because even the dogs themselves will not be happy to be associated with such acts of paganism . . . what I have not heard is what vows they exchange with each other when they marry, who do they say they have married and to bear what kind of fruits?" said Mugabe to wild cheers from Zanu PF supporters.
While rights groups denounced his stance, churches and traditionalists rallied around the president.
Bishop Trevor Manhanga, a disciple of the President, declared "the practice of homosexuality is neither human nor right".
"To equate deviant sexual behaviour with the rights of women and children, minorities and other sectors of humanity who have struggled to be afforded certain inalienable basic human rights is nothing short of diabolical."
Source - Byo24News
