JESSICA HODGSON, THE GUARDIAN, Harare | Tuesday
THE powerful head of the Zimbabwe state broadcaster is to be investigated by the government after allegations of homosexuality were made against him, according to newspaper reports.
Alum Mpofu, the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp, has been accused of causing a disturbance at a Harare nightclub after being caught “in a compromising situation” with a man, according to the state newspaper the Herald.
The reports are likely to fuel further international outrage at the behaviour of the government.
President Robert Mugabe has been reviled by gay activists around the world for outlawing homosexual acts and describing same sex partners as “worse than pigs and dogs”.
Two years ago the country’s former ceremonial president, Canaan Banana, was jailed for committing homosexual acts and indecent assault on members of his presidential guard in a case that deeply embarrassed President Mugabe.
Jonathan Moyo, the information minister, told the newspaper that Mr Mpofu, a ruling party loyalist appointed to lead the state broadcaster, “will be given a fair hearing and allowed time to tell his side of the story”.
Mr Mpofu, who was recruited by Mr Moyo in a bid to make broadcaster ZBC more supportive of the Mugabe government, has not commented on the allegations.
But the minister said at the time he did not act like “bedroom policemen” when hiring public officials.
President Mugabe, declared the winner in last month’s disputed presidential poll, scoffed at homosexuality in Britain, during the campaign.
He repeatedly said the prime minister, Tony Blair, led “a government of gay gangsters and lesbians” who needed biology classes on human reproduction.
Mr Moyo said Mr Mpofu’s alleged behaviour was “totally unacceptable” from a public official, regardless of whether a man or woman was involved.
But he also condemned homosexuality. “Sexual perverts need to be told once again that homosexuality is unnatural,” he said.
“The only people who accept homosexuality are liberals who think it is a way of getting votes.”
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