Zimbabwean gay rights activists accused of ‘undermining’ President Mugabe’s authority

Ellen Chademana (34) and Ignatius Muhambi (38), the two employees of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe organisation (GALZ) who were arrested at their Harare offices last Friday, will not be released today according to their attorney, David Hofisi.

Ms Chademana and Mr Muhambi were expected to be released on bail today following their arrest for alleged possession of “indecent images”, but when they were brought to court, fresh charges were levelled against them relating to “undermining the authority of the President”, said Hofisi. He added: “There was a plaque on the wall of the GALZ office with a declaration by Willy Brown Jnr, the [former] mayor of San Francisco, which denounced President Mugabe for his opposition to homosexuality. . . It also praised GALZ for its work.”

As Tuesday is a public holiday, Ms Chadehama and Mr Muhambi will have to spent two more nights in jail. Police claim they confiscated two pornographic videotapes at the offices of GALZ on Friday which means each of the pair are facing up to a year in prison if convicted.