The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has uncovered a 1,000-member group in Harare facilitating same-sex relationships through a WhatsApp platform called “Private Lounge,” according to The Herald.
The investigation began after the arrest of a 25-year-old man and a teenager in Highfield, accused of being involved in a same-sex relationship.
The man, an employee at a local supermarket from New Canaan, and the teenager, a Form Four student from Glen Norah B Extension, reportedly connected through the WhatsApp group.
The teenager joined the group in January 2024, introduced himself, and expressed interest in finding a partner. He later met the man at Machipisa Shopping Centre and eventually visited his home.
The relationship came to light when the teenager’s father found messages on his son’s phone and blocked the contact. On October 7, 2024, the man tried to reach the teenager through his mother’s phone, leading the father to report the situation to the police.
Authorities have arrested the man, while the teenager has been released to his parents as investigations continue. ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, stating:
“We have detained two individuals who have helped us uncover a WhatsApp group with over 1,000 members engaged in same-sex relationships and meeting in various locations around Harare. Investigations are ongoing.”
Same-sex relationships are illegal in Zimbabwe. Earlier in 2024, the government cautioned against organizations promoting homosexuality through scholarships, condemning them as contrary to Zimbabwean values.
The Office of the President and Cabinet also criticized foreign efforts to encourage “alien, unAfrican, and unChristian values” among local students.
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