Justice and Legal Affairs deputy minister Obert Gutu has challenged Zanu PF to prove to the nation that the draft constitution legalises homosexuality. In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, Gutu, who is also the MDC-T Harare provincial spokesperson said this was a Zanu PF smokescreen to confuse Zimbabweans.
Report by Own Correspondent “I have read the draft back to front numerous times and as a student of constitutional law myself, I could not find any provision that stated that homosexuality is to be legalised,” he said.
“Thus, all this mumbo jumbo talk about homosexuality is a Zanu PF smokescreen to cloud and deliberately confuse people.”
Gutu’s statement came a week after a local newspaper reported that unnamed churches had vowed to mobilise their followers countrywide to vote against the draft constitution if the document does not outlaw homosexuality and same-sex marriages. “Nowhere in the Copac draft constitution signed on July 18 2012, is the issue of homosexuality legalised and/or legitimised,” he said.
“I hereby challenge anyone to show me, chapter and verse, where the draft constitution specifically provides for the legalisation of homosexuality.
“Going forward, the peace-loving people of Zimbabwe should not be misled and confused by the desperate shenanigans of the sunset party, Zanu PF.”
“Zanu PF is always pre-occupied with gay issues although it is a public secret that some very high-ranking Zanu PF officials, both living and dead, are/were openly gay.”
Contacted for comment Zanu PF Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana maintained that there was a clause legalising homosexuality in the draft.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I don’t want to debate anything with Gutu, but as a Copac member, I know the issue of homesexuality is there in the draft constitution,” he said.
“When you don’t say something it means you are saying something.”
