Armed men left 35 people injured after they stormed a gay party and beat up guests in Harare over the weekend, Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) organisation has claimed.
GALZ said its members were attacked by a dozen of unidentified men who gate crashed the organization’s party which was held at a private venue in the capital.
The gay community holds its meetings in private in fear of the country’s laws which criminalize their homosexual activities.
Chesterfield Samba, the GALZ director, said over 12 unidentified armed men forced themselves into the party venue and attacked them.
“They were in three vehicles when they arrived and one of them produced a pistol and threatened our security team that was manning the gate for denying them access. Upon entering they started beating people using logs, iron bars, empty beer bottles and clenched fists,” Samba said.
He added: “The men also demanded cash and gadgets from the members as they were attacking them. As a result of the attacks over 35 of our members suffered injuries.”
Samba also said: “The injured were rushed to a private hospital where some of them were treated and discharged.”
He said they have delayed to report the case to the police because of the hostility they usually get from the law enforcement agents.
“We are at the moment compiling details of the unfortunate incident with the aim of going to report the case to the police,” he said.
GALZ said the weekend attack was similar to the one that occurred at their offices in June last year where five unknown men wielding hammers violently forced entry into the offices disrupting a meeting which was in progress.
Up to now the perpetrators have not yet been brought to court despite the police acting swiftly in arresting the men.
GALZ also took the opportunity to denounce a similar act of violence that took place in Harare last week where a woman was dehumanized at a commuter omnibus rank for wearing a mini skirt.
A video which has gone viral on social media shows the young lady being harassed by men who were attempting to pull down her dress, including her undergarments.
by Staff Reporter
Source – New Zimbabe
