MP arrested for saying Mugabe is homosexual

HARARE, Tuesday

A Zimbabwean MP has been arrested for allegedly calling President Robert Mugabe a homosexual.

Mrs Lillian Kirenyi, a legislator from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party was on Tuesday charged with undermining the authority of President Mugabe.

The court was told that the MP committed the alleged offence during an address to party supporters on December 9.

She allegedly said: “Zanu PF (President Mugabe’s party) members been attacking MDC president Tsvangirai alleging he is pro-homosexuals yet Robert Mugabe has practiced homosexuality with (Professor) Jonathan Moyo (former Information minister) and Canaan Banana (Zimbabwe’s first ceremonial president).”

The late Mr Banana was jailed for sodomising his bodyguard.

Mr Tsvangirai came under fire recently after he told the BBC in an interview that he wanted to see the rights of homosexuals protected in Zimbabwe’s new constitution.

Prof Moyo, now an influential Zanu PF legislator, has been calling on Mr Tsvangirai to step down after the PM ended his alleged 12 day marriage with a Harare businesswoman last month.

The State is against Mrs Kirenyi being granted bail claiming that she faces a serious offence and could be harmed by President Mugabe’s supporters.

The veteran ruler says gays are worse than dogs and pigs. Last month, he threatened to severely punish Zimbabwean youths caught practicing homosexuality.

He also called British Prime Minister David Cameroon satanic after his statement that Britain will not provide aid to states that criminalise gays.