Zimbabweans slam Mutare family and media house ove...

Zimbabweans slam Mutare family and media house over gay man exposure

Nobesuthu Ndlovu

Some Zimbabweans have utilized social media to censure a Mutare family and a radio station for the way they handled the discovery of a young man’s gay sexuality.

“Such Rubbish reporting, Diamond FM Zim. Rubbish grandmother and rubbish mother ‘expose’ gay child’s entire life,” wrote Sonny Jermain on his Facebook wall, expressing the views in common with many others who took to social media.

Mutare based radio station Diamond FM aired a video of the Mutare woman disowning her son for being gay. The boy’s grandmother also joins in the condemnation. The video ends with a note from the radio station saying that the young man himself declined to be interviewed.

“This is heartbreaking!” commented Lisa Yvette Chiferere-Shoniwa. Many of those who spoke on the matter were concerned with the way that the radio station giving prominence to what they term hate speech by the mother and grandmother.

Gay rights group GALZ said the interview could be perceived as inciting violence against the LGBTQl+ community.

“We are concerned that the interview vilifies our kind as Tafadzwa's perceived sexual orientation was exposed in the interview rendering them vulnerable to threats of violence, harassment, stigma and discrimination.

"Consequently, our community lives in fear of violence and abuse because they have witnessed abuse or encountered homophobic slurs,” said GALZ.

There were a number of comments on social media calling the young man a number of names and referring to his sexuality as an abomination that is against Christian principles.

“I always find it hypocritical when Christians cite their faith as a reason to abuse,” commented Albie Matarutse.

“The law is what needs changing,” submitted one Ru Ruwaya on Facebook, a position supported by GALZ.

"It is unfortunate for Zimbabwe that the law currently facilitates harassment of LGBTQl+ individuals because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore Tafadzwa's mental health becomes our priority," GALZ said.