Police Uncover 1,000-Member Gay Syndicate in Harare, Two Arrested
HARARE – Police have uncovered a syndicate involving over 1,000 members promoting illegal homosexual relationships in Harare through a WhatsApp group named “Private Lounge.” The discovery follows the arrest of a 25-year-old man and a teenager, both allegedly involved in an illicit same-sex relationship.
The man, employed at a local supermarket and residing in Highfield’s New Canaan section, was apprehended after the father of the teenage boy, a Form Four student from Glen Norah B Extension, reported the relationship to authorities. The two had allegedly met earlier this year after the teenager joined the WhatsApp group in January, introducing himself and expressing interest in finding a partner. The older man, already part of the group, reportedly reached out, and the pair agreed to meet.
In May, the teenager is said to have visited the man’s house, where they consumed alcohol before becoming intimate. Their relationship came to light when the boy’s father discovered messages on his son’s cellphone and blocked the man’s contact.
However, on October 7, 2024, the man attempted to contact the teenager through his mother’s phone, leading the father to report the matter to the police. The man was taken into custody while the teenager was released into his parents’ care as investigations continue.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrests, stating, “We confirm that we have picked up two suspects who have assisted us in unearthing a gay and homosexual WhatsApp group with more than 1,000 participants meeting at various locations in Harare. Investigations are ongoing.”
The discovery has sparked strong condemnation from the government, with a statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet denouncing scholarships that allegedly sought to lure students into LGBT activities. The government emphasized that such practices are illegal and against Zimbabwe’s values, instructing educational institutions not to entertain applications from those associated with promoting LGBT rights.
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