Police in Mufakose are hunting for a 42-year-old woman accused of running an underground group that allegedly promoted same-sex activities among young men.
The suspect, identified as Annie Chiwanza of New Marimba, Mufakose, is said to have been working as an employee of Population Solutions for Health, a non-governmental organisation. Authorities believe she used her position to gain access to condoms and lubricants, which she allegedly distributed to lure vulnerable boys and young men into her private group.
According to police sources, members of the group would be introduced to older men with the intention of engaging in same-sex encounters. The activities reportedly came to light after a concerned father discovered inappropriate messages on his teenage son’s phone. The conversations revealed arrangements being made between the boy and men linked to the group.
“The father immediately alerted us, and we launched an investigation. The identities of the boy and his father are being withheld for their protection, as this matter is still sensitive and ongoing,” said a police spokesperson.
Repeated attempts to locate Chiwanza at her New Marimba residence have failed, and officers suspect she is now on the run. Police have urged members of the public with information on her whereabouts to report immediately to the nearest station.
Zimbabwean law strictly criminalises same-sex activity under Section 73 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which categorises sodomy as an offence. In a related case, in May 2024, a 44-year-old man, also employed by Population Solutions for Health, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after he was convicted of luring a 24-year-old man under false pretences for sexual purposes.
Commenting on the broader context, analysts note that international funding for LGBT-related programs in Zimbabwe has faced setbacks. The recent decision by the United States government to disband USAID’s LGBT-focused initiatives is expected to curtail avenues through which groups had been mobilising resources.
Meanwhile, police in Harare remain on high alert as investigations continue. “We will not rest until the suspect is apprehended. This case is a matter of protecting young and innocent citizens from exploitation,” said the police spokesperson.
The question remains that if she is promoting that act or doing her job of preventing HIV spreading other related diseases among the LGBT community in a space where it is not accepted and now taken as a crime.
