Accommodation woes of Masvingo lesbian
NKULUMANI MLAMBO
MASVINGO-While other urban areas in Zimbabwe seem to be tolerating the lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community unfortunately for the small City of Masvingo this is not the case as they face serious discrimination.
This is manifesteted through one woman who has frequently hoped from one lodgings to the other due to her sexuality.
A self confessed lesbian, Judhesi (not her real name) was once married to an academic in Masvingo City and the couple is blessed with three children, but she is having a torrid time in getting accommodation.
The moment her landlord knows that Judhesi is lesbian she is issued with a notice to leave the place as her sexuality is considered abominable.
Judhhesi says her woes mounted soon after a local weekly published a story that she was lesbian and has divorced her husband in order to enjoy her life as a lesbian.
“Masvingo is too small and from the time I came out in the Press that I am lesbian even my children had problems accepting that. I was given a notice as soon as the landlord got wind that I was lesbian.
“This has not only affected me personally alone as it has extended to my children who are now labelled by the my sexuality. People in Masvingo have not matured enough to accept the LGBTQ community.
“By changing places frequently my children are also being affected as sometimes I end up getting accommodation at places that also require them to change schools, which negatively affect their education.
“If you go to Harare nobody cares about one’s sexual orientation but here in Masvingo the situation is different, as a result we are now going underground to protect ourselves because the moment people know that you are lesbian, the way they treat you automatically changes,” said a distraught.
Gays also complained about the treatment they get from people in Masvingo and workplaces as the practise is not familiar in the ancient city and it is still considered a taboo in the African culture.
People in the LGBTQ community face higher rates of rejection, violence, suicide and homelessness in the country compared to other populations.
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) programs officer, Sylvester Nyamatendedze said such cases are quite common, but added that taunting someone because of their sexual orientation is a clear abuse of human rights.
Nyamatendedze added that they also offer counselling to their members through a program called parents, friends, associates, lesbians and gays (PFAALEG).
Bulawayo based Pastor Elliot Mandaza said although the position of the Church in Zimbabwe is clear on gays and lesbians if anyone comes out in the open they can offer counselling support but was quick to add that some of them are adamant and would be seeking to recruit more people into their groups.
“It is important that one has to live with the consequences of their choices, it is a choice that they would have made and must also allow other to make a choice not to like it.
“If they have the freedom to make a choice to be what they want to be they should also allow others to enjoy the same freedom to make a choice not to like them, just like making a choice to stay with a drunkard or drug addict in your home,” said Pastor Mandaza.
The story is published with support from the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) and the Embassy of Canada in Zimbabwe under the Investigative Journalism Fund Program.
