Gay rights activist acquitted in Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe attends the African Union summit in Uganda

Reuters

By RFI

A Zimbabwean gay rights activist has been found not guilty of pornography charges after a police raid in May on his group's offices, his lawyer said on Monday. Ignatius Muhambi, an accountant for Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, was arrested along with office administrator Ellen Chademana during the raid.

Muhambi's lawyer Jeremiah Bamu said the prosecution failed to establish a case against him at the close of their submissions on Friday and the magistrate acquitted him.

Prosecutors said police found in the office a DVD showing men having sex. At first, the pair was also accused of insulting Mugabe, but the charge was never formally filed.

On Monday, a magistrate's court postponed Chademana's trial until 2 August.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has often homosexuals in speeches. This year he has repeatedly vowed to resist the inclusion of gay rights in a new constitution proposed for Zimbabwe. Last week he said same-sex marriages were similar to "dog behaviour".

South Africa is the only nation Africa that gives equal rights to homosexuals.