"Police, some of them visibly drunk, assaulted most of the members using baton sticks"
Police in Zimbabwe detained 44 gay rights activists during a raid on the headquarters of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) association in Harare on the weekend, the group said on Monday.
The police raid on Saturday came as activists were preparing for the launch of a report on abuses against gays and lesbians in the country, where homosexuality is outlawed and President Robert Mugabe has referred to gays as being “worse than dogs and pigs”.
“Police, some of them visibly drunk, assaulted most of the members using baton sticks,” GALZ said in a statement, adding that some of the activists were punched and kicked.
The 44 were taken to Harare central police station where they were held before being released without charge Sunday.
“GALZ does not condone violence and we are not a threat,” said the statement.
“Those who cause violence are a threat to public safety and security and we ask that they stay away from our premises.”
Police spokesman James Sabau denied that the group had been arrested and said that they had been taken to the police station for “screening”.
Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has rejected calls for the new constitution currently under debate to guarantee gay rights.
- SA President Jacob Zuma will pay a one-day visit to Zimbabwe this week, his spokesman Mac Maharaj said on Monday.
The visit, set for Wednesday, was in his capacity as Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator in the Zimbabwe impasse.
“It is part of his ongoing duties to ensure that the country is on the route for a fair, intimidation-free election,” Maharaj said.
Zuma was appointed SADC chief mediator on Zimbabwe in 2009, taking over from his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki.
No date had been set yet for Zimbabwe’s next elections, which were expected to take place within the next 12 months.
A fragile unity government was formed in Zimbabwe in 2008, featuring President Robert Mugabe and opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The union followed a highly-contested presidential poll and a spate of post-election violence.
Mugabe has ruled the land-locked country since its independence in 1980.
Mugabe's anti-gay smackdown
"Police, some of them visibly drunk, assaulted most of the members using baton sticks"
Police in Zimbabwe detained 44 gay rights activists during a raid on the headquarters of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) association in Harare on the weekend, the group said on Monday.
The police raid on Saturday came as activists were preparing for the launch of a report on abuses against gays and lesbians in the country, where homosexuality is outlawed and President Robert Mugabe has referred to gays as being “worse than dogs and pigs”.
“Police, some of them visibly drunk, assaulted most of the members using baton sticks,” GALZ said in a statement, adding that some of the activists were punched and kicked.
The 44 were taken to Harare central police station where they were held before being released without charge Sunday.
“GALZ does not condone violence and we are not a threat,” said the statement.
“Those who cause violence are a threat to public safety and security and we ask that they stay away from our premises.”
Police spokesman James Sabau denied that the group had been arrested and said that they had been taken to the police station for “screening”.
Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has rejected calls for the new constitution currently under debate to guarantee gay rights.
The visit, set for Wednesday, was in his capacity as Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator in the Zimbabwe impasse.
“It is part of his ongoing duties to ensure that the country is on the route for a fair, intimidation-free election,” Maharaj said.
Zuma was appointed SADC chief mediator on Zimbabwe in 2009, taking over from his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki.
No date had been set yet for Zimbabwe’s next elections, which were expected to take place within the next 12 months.
A fragile unity government was formed in Zimbabwe in 2008, featuring President Robert Mugabe and opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The union followed a highly-contested presidential poll and a spate of post-election violence.
Mugabe has ruled the land-locked country since its independence in 1980.
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