Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 20:12:39 +0200 From: Bjoern Skolander The following report is written by Mai Palmberg, co-author of the report "Human Rights and Homosexuality in Southern Africa", which deals mainly with last years book fair drama in Harare. She is currently visiting Zimbabwe and this years book fair to present her report, and has promised to share her impressions with us. Bjoern Skolander ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT JULY 26, 1996 FROM HARARE This year's book fair in Zimbabwe is set to be a new crisis and test case for the freedom of expression and respect for the human rights of homosexuals. On Tuesday July 23 the director of information Mr. Bornwell Chakaodza issued a banning order barring GALZ from renting a stand. They had already applied for a double stand, and been accepted by the organisers of the book fair, the Zimbabwe Book Fair Trust. Announcing the banning order director of information Mr. Bornwell Chakaodza said GALZ was banned from exhibiting at this and all future book fairs. (The Herald July 24, 1996) In many respects this year's banning seems to be a repetion of what happened last year, when the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) was thrown out in the last few days, before the fair was about to open despite the fact that they had already been accepted to have a stand. But there are some significant differences: 1. The organisers of the book fair who were caught by surprise last year, have expressed a tough line against government interference, and said that they will if necessary appeal to a court of law. All applications will be considered purely on legal grounds and without any submission to government pressure, they said in a statement issued Oct. 6, 1995. They have also given a press release explicitly stating that GALZ will be accepted to participate if they applied. 2. The GALZ this year refuses to submit to pressure. They have given a strong statement, issued July 25, and published in "the Independent", to the effect that they are legally participating in the book fair, and have appealed to police protection against harrassment. On Monday July 29 the stands are set up by those participating in the fair. 3. The government has been divided on the issue. The minister of information, post and telecommunication, Joyce Mujuru, had earlier said the government would not intervene if GALZ participated. It is significant that the director of information, Bornwell Chakaodza, was the same political leader who isssued the banning order last year. That time it was made with reference to the fact that president Robert Mugabe was going to open the book fair. President Mugabe has ever since the last year's book fair carried out a verbal persecution of gays and lesbians, which has evoked several condemnations from organisations and governments. This year there is a risk that the threats go from verbal to physical. A newly founded Christian Communication Association of Zimbabwe, and a "cultural" organisation called Sangano Munhumutapa have all threatened havoc and violance if GALZ are allowed. These threats are thought to be inspired or planned by paid agents of the government in order to give the impression that people of Zimbabwe abhor the foreign imposition of decadent values, which is how homosexuality is portrayed officially. The risk of officially inspired and/or condoned mob violence is taken seriously by those concerned. When asking for police protection the police has, however, said they will give them none, since they are banned from the fair anyway. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights), Legal Resource Foundation and The Catholic Commisssion for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe have all issued statements to criticise the government for the "overeaction" and banning. In connection with the banning order Bornwell Chakaodza said: "Gays and lesbians have, like anyone else, a right to live, but they have absolutely no right to publicly display literature and material at a public and cultural event where hundrads of children visit to fulfill one of ZIBF's commitments, which is 'to uphold the right of the people of Africa' to have full access to books which are culturally and materially relevant to their reading needs." The statement does represent a nuance shift from last year. Now the homosexuals have "a right to live" but not to show that they exist, nor to speak as homosexuals. This line is supported by a probably fabricated readers' letter in the Herald (July 25), which purportedly is written by a homosexual who is angry with GALZ for making homosexuality a public issue, saying that all homosexuals want is to live in peace and quiet. Chakaodza also said: " The barring of GALZ from renting a stand at the Fair is not a question of contravening the laws of Zimbabwe or the country's own Declaration of Rights. Neither is it a question of violating freedom of art and expression. It is an issue of protecting and guaranteeing the cultural health of Zimbabwe." The Herald newspaper on July 25 carried an interview with professor George Kahari, one of the board members of the Zimbabwe Book Fair Trust, who said that GALZ should stay out and if they did not, law should take its course. He was also quoted as concurring with the view that homosexuality is "against our culture". On Friday July 26 the paper will, however, carry an ad paid by the ZIBF to take abstention from Kathari's statement and saying that decisions can only be taken by the director of the book fair trust, Trish Mbanga. Mai Palmberg