A firestorm has erupted after South African social media influencer Austin Mzukwa and a companion named Sky were allegedly refused entry into Zanzibar for being gay.
On Thursday, the beauty, fashion and lifestyle content creator excitedly announced on his social media platforms that he would be travelling to Zanzibar to celebrate his birthday, alongside a video of him and Sky packing their suitcases.
A short while later, a stunned Mzukwa posted a video, seemingly filmed at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar, in which he claimed that authorities had blocked him and Sky from entering the country.
‘They’re Saying We Are Gays’
“We’re stuck. They’re saying we are a couple, so we can’t enter their country. Me and my friend Sky, so that’s it.” he told his social media followers. “We’re going back to South Africa. They can’t allow us to go in, so we have to go back. They’re saying we are gays. We’re a couple…”
Mzukwa went on to say that the authorities planned to put them on a flight back to South Africa, leaving them to wait for hours at the airport, unable to pass through immigration or buy food.
He tried to console his companion, who could be seen crying: “No, it’s fine. Let’s go. Let’s go. We can’t stay somewhere where we’re not welcome.”
In a later post, Mzukwa confirmed that he was “Safely back home”, adding, “thank you all for your lovely messages, we are safe everyone.”
Same-Sex Intimacy Is Criminalised in Tanzania and Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania and a popular tourist destination for South Africans. Consensual same-sex intimacy is criminalised in Tanzania, with penalties that can include life imprisonment.
Zanzibar’s own Penal Code also criminalises same-sex intimacy, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison, while anyone attempting to enter into a same-sex union or marriage can face up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Tanzania has a history of not only arresting and imprisoning people over same-sex intimacy but also targeting human rights defenders and HIV activists.
In 2017, two South African lawyers attending a workshop about the government’s decision to close HIV drop-in centres and ban the distribution of lubricants in public health institutions were arrested. Although they never faced formal charges, authorities eventually deported them after they spent several days in detention.
Despite the legal provisions targeting LGBTQ+ people, reports have suggested that many resorts in Zanzibar have typically turned a blind eye to LGBTQ+ tourists as long as they do not show affection in public.
Mzukwa’s Video Sparks Debate Online
MambaOnline attempted to contact Mzukwa for more information about what took place but did not receive a response. Tanzanian authorities have also not confirmed the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Mzukwa’s video went viral on social media, receiving mixed reactions. Some ridiculed him for booking a holiday in a country where same-sex intimacy and relationships are outlawed.
“This is the most ditsy thing I’ve seen on social media. You’re an openly gay influencer and decided to book flights to the most homophobic country in Africa,” wrote one person.
Others commended Tanzania for enforcing its laws, arguing that visitors should respect the norms and legislation of the countries they visit.
One person, however, questioned how Tanzanian authorities had determined that Mzukwa and Sky were gay. “I’m curious as to what test they used to determine whether they’re straight or not? Has Tanzania finally manufactured an actual gaymometer?”
An Isolated Incident or a Wider Crackdown?
It remains unclear whether Mzukwa’s alleged rejection by Tanzanian immigration authorities was an isolated incident or could signal a broader effort to block LGBTQ+ visitors from entering the country.
The incident also follows moves against LGBTQ+ tourists by Egypt and Turkey. In July, both countries refused to allow an LGBTQ+ cruise ship to dock at their ports.
