The real story is that many brave gay Zimbabweans continue to lead relatively open lives despite official homophobia and harrasment. Same sex holding hands, hugging and kissing is not illegal. But sodomy is. However it is almost impossible to convict any one of sodomy as there has to be a witness. But the mere existance of such laws are used to intimidate or blackmail gay people, particularly if they happen to be activists. The problem in Zimbabwe has always been one of ignorance, including ignorance amongst people in law enforcement who don’t actually know the law.

While it s understandable that Mugabe provokes outrage amongst a lot of people, comments like “Die you bastard die” are really not helpful. It is said that every dog has his day, they say, but unfortunately Mugabe will NOT have his day in court. What South Africans can do is lobby their MPs, hold demonstrations outside the Zimbabwe High Commission and consulates, and apply pressure, the same way they have been doing with Uganda.