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Zimbabwe leaders deny new constitution permits homosexual acts

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe agreed at belated International Women's Day Celebrations on Friday that gay rights should not be constitutionally protected. While Zimbabwean "sexual deviancy" laws prohibit homosexual acts, some lawmakers have suggested that drafts of Zimbabwe's new constitution decriminalize homosexual acts. Tsvangirai and Mugabe rejected such proposals, stating that the current law serves to promote unions between men and women. The leaders' agreement signaled a rare alignment of opinion in what has become a contentious power-sharing arrangement. Last year, the Zimbabwean parliament formed a committee to draft a new constitution as part of the power-sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai. It was hoped that a draft of the new constitution would be completed by this February so that it could be decided upon via referendum in July and adopted by the end of the year. Zimbabwe last attempted a constitutional referendum in 2000, though it was rejected due to concerns about the extent of power that would be given to Mugabe. Once the constitution is ratified, Tsvangirai targets 2011 for a presidential election.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 26, 2010 (boomark / email).