Gay Guide Zimbabwe

Sexual acts between men are illegal in Zimbabwe due to regulations that describe anal sex as bestiality and speak of broad "indecent acts" - even among heterosexuals. In contrast, sex among lesbians is not punishable. In 2012, there were more reports of persecution of homosexuals, e.g. 44 LGBT rights activists were arrested and violently attacked by the police. In 2013, the country's constitution was specially amended to define marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman. Since Robert Mugabe was ousted as president in 2017, many homosexuals have hopes that their situation will improve soon. Under Mugabe's government, gays were blamed for many problems, which manifested itself in the queer-phobic attitude of the population. According to a 2018 survey, half of the gay men in Zimbabwe said they had been physically attacked in their lives. 64% were dispossessed by their own family. Zimbabwe is located in the immediate vicinity of more liberal African countries such as South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. Zimbabwe is not recommended as a tourist destination. The safety of tourists cannot be guaranteed.