Tsvangirai changes view on gay rights

Zimbabwe’s beleaguered gays got a boost from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who reversed his position and voiced his support for gay rights. Gay rights should be enshrined in a new constitution for Zimbabwe, said Tsvangirai, in an interview with the BBC. He said that gay rights are a “human right” that conservative Zimbabweans should respect. Last year, Tsvangirai joined President Robert Mugabe in opposing homosexuality. But in the new interview he staked out an opposing position.

Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change has been in a controversial power sharing government with Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party. The two leaders have promised political reforms ahead of next year’s elections. Zimbabwe is in the process of drafting a new constitution, which will be put to a referendum ahead of the elections.

 Homosexual acts are currently illegal in Zimbabwe, as in most African countries where many people view homosexuality as un-Christian and un-African. Mr Tsvangirai said there is a “very strong cultural feeling” against homosexuality in Zimbabwe, but he would defend gay rights if he became president. “It’s a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody,” said Tsvangirai. “To me, it’s a human right,” he said. Zimbabwe’s long-time leader Robert Mugabe — a practising Catholic — once said gays were “worse than pigs and dogs,” sparking international condemnation.


 In March 2010, Tsvangirai said gay rights was not up for discussion in Zimbabwe. ”I totally agree with the president,” he said at the time. Tsvangirai’s dramatic change suggests that he is now courting votes from Zimbabwe’s more liberal, educated parts of society. Also he is hoping to maintain support for the human rights community. He now wants Zimbabwe to adopt a liberal policy, similar to that of neighboring South Africa. He will face strong resistance from Mugabe, who will exploit Tsvangirai’s U-turn to drum up support for himself in the run-up to the election, correspondents say. It will be Zimbabwe’s first general election since

Tsvangirai’s MDC party formed a unity government with Mugabe’s Zanu-PF after polls in 2008. Those elections were marred by widespread violence and rigging, with Tsvangirai boycotting a run-off vote. The coalition — formed under pressure from regional leaders — has stabilized the country, but tension has been rising ahead of next year’s vote. The two parties have not yet to agreed on political and security reforms to guarantee a free and fair poll. Nor has a draft of a new constitution been agreed upon. Several public meetings on a constitution have been disrupted by angry Zanu-PF demonstrators.