THURSDAY, 5.30PM
FORMER Zimbabwe president Canaan Banana has been fired from his voluntary, part-time teaching post at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.
University authorities on Thursday confirmed that Banana, 61, a methodist priest and professor of religious studies, classics, and philosophy, was discharged and had already vacated his office in the arts faculty, where he has been lecturing since his retirement in 1987.
Banana’s sacking by the university follows allegations which arose in February this year that Banana had sexually abused a former aide. Subsequently, several more people, including former bodyguards, students and players in his state house soccer team, came forward with similar claims. police are investigating the claims with an eye on prosecuting Banana. Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Zimbabwe.
The saga has been an embarrassment to President Robert Mugabe, who has been outspoken in his condemnation of homosexuality as “unAfrican’.
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