Conceive or face jail, Mugabe tells gay couples

PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday challenged people involved in same sex relationships to fall pregnant and produce children, failing which they should face jail.

Speaking during the launch of the Zanu-PF election manifesto and election campaign at a star rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare yesterday, the President said it

was shameful that US President Barack Obama who is of African parentage insisted on promoting gays and lesbians.

He lamented that the problem had spilled into some churches that were also solemnising same sex marriages, a taboo in many African communities.

"Iyezvino kwauya nyaya yevanozviti maKristu. Zvino varikuti murume nemurume ngavadanane. Hameno kuti bhaibheri ravava kuverenga nderipi rinoti dananai mukadzi nemukadzi kana murume nemurume. Zvino vanga chata? (Manje sokufike udaba lwalabo abazibiza amaKristu. Manje bathi indoda lendoda kabathandane. Asazi ukuthi ibhayibhili asebelifundi yiliphi elithi umfazi lomfazi bathandane kumbe indoda lendoda. Manje bengatshada?)

"Asi zvichinzi ivava vachata, vachaita vana,  vaani vacho? Asi pane paungavazaririre mumba kwegore tigoona mimba yacho inobuda ipapo. Mukatadza kuburitsa mimba ipapo mose mujere nokuti munenge matika muchaita vana (Ma kungathiwa bonaba sebetshadile, bazala abantwana, abakabani? Kulendawo esingabavalela khona okomnyaka wonke sibone isisu esingaphuma khonapho. Bengehluyleka ukumithisana, bonke ejele ngoba belithe lizokwenza abantwana)," he said to loud cheers.

President Mugabe said he was shocked by US president Obama who was saying African countries should embrace same sex marriages, adding such practices were not tolerated in Africa and in Zimbabwe in particular.

Some Western countries were forcing African countries to embrace same sex marriages as a pre-condition for aid, but President Mugabe has remained steadfast on his position, describing sexual deviants as "worse than pigs and dogs".

"Zvino anokuzvarirai vana ndiani. Saka huwori ihwohwo tinoti kwete.  Huwori ihwohwo hwapinda nekuChechi. Archbishop of Canterbury kutochatisa varume. Hameno kuti anoti mukadzi ndiani kana murume ndiani. (Manje ozalizalela abantwana ngubani. Manje yisitsotsi leso, sithi cha. Isitsotsi lesi sesingene lase nkonzweni. Archbishop of Canterbury ukutshadisa amadoda. Asazi ukuthi uthi umfazi ngubani kumbe indoda yiphi)

"Vakadzi nekwavo vane huwori hwavo. Kubva kwabuda mumwe achiti ndini murume ipapo. Chauri kuti uri murume chii? Tiratidze. Ndo zvataramba izvozvo. Kana pane vane vana vavo vari kuDiaspora vaudzei kuti kuno zvinoera hazvidiwe. Takatonga vanwe vakuru tikavaendesa kujere nenyaya iyoyi," he said in apparent reference to Professor Canaan Sodindo Banana. (Abafazi labo balesitsotsi sabo. Kusuke kuphume omunye umfazi esithi yimi indoda. Okukwenza ube yindoda yini? Sitshengisa. Yikho esikwalayo khonalokho. Ma kulabalabantwana abase Diaspora batsheleni ukuthi ngapha kuyazila akufunakali. Sahlala idale sahambisa enye indoda ejele ngendaba zonezo)

The MDC formations tried to smuggle homosexuality into the new Constitution and were only stopped by Zanu-PF vigilance.

However, Zanu-PF triumphed and the new Constitution is clear that marriage shall be between people of opposite sex and of legally acceptable age.