Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 16:34:05 +0200 From: Bjoern Skolander REPORT JULY 31, 1996 FROM HARARE by Mai Palmberg, co-author of the report "Human Rights and Homosexuality in Southern Africa" ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR OPENS WITHOUT GALZ - BUT THE DISCUSSION CONTINUES On Tuesday July 30 the Zimbabwe International Book Fair opened without Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe who were prohibited to take part by a government order issued on Monday. There were others absent as well - a number of those South African publishers who had applied for a stand have decided not to come when they heard that the government again wanted to ban GALZ from participation. Absent this year were also high representatives of the government. Last year president Mugabe opened the book fair, which then had as its theme human rights, and used the occasion to lash out against homosexuals. This year president Mugabe has been on a state visit to Malaysia and thus avoids being personally involved in this year's banning of GALZ. But his spirit is looming large over the whole affair. The book fair was opened by John-Willy Rudolph, head of KOPINOR in Norway, an organisation to set up procedures for renumeration to authors of copying material illegally. At the end of his speech he referred to the GALZ issue, without mentioning the organisation by name. It is sad, he said, that one registered participant is excluded from participating, and added that he wanted to salute the balanced views expressed by Justice Manyarara and quoted in the Sunday Mail (see below). He also added that the Zimbabwe International Book Fair must be seen as an international event, with international high standards of freedom of expression. Justice Manyarara is a former High Court Judge and presently, among other things chairman of the media Council of Zimbabwe. Significantly for the way that Zimbabwean media have taken part in the witch-hunt against GALZ and in the whipping up of sentiments in favour of their exclusion, whether governmental or mob violence, the report in the Sunday Mail, July 28, 1996 (p. 4) starts by saying that local journalists were angered by Manyarara's remarks, adding that he is out of touch with reality. It then goes on to let the readers know something of Manyarara's views: "Justice Manyarara claimed homosexuality existed in traditional Zimbabwe. He said he had read this from an article published by a local magazine. "The story was killed by not being republished by anybody else- I have the clipping. This is self-censorship," he told participants who included journalists from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon and South Africa. Justice Manyarara said Zimbabwean journalists had not investigated the legality of the ban on Galz. He said he personally knew that the ban was illegal. He challenged Zimbabweans to carry out a referendum on the matter. No journalists had any knowledge on what was going to be exhibited, so how can you begin support the banning, he said." The announcement that Galz would be banned came on Tuesday July 23. The book fair trust responded be reiterating that they were accepting as participant any organisation that was legal, and would take no further action about GALZ' participation. On Monday July 29 the prohibition was issued, and the book fair trust felt compelled to issue a statement that they had to comply with the laws of Zimbabwe. An important factor behind this was the threat of violence that had been expressed and apparently condoned in the government controlled media. The interesting thing is that the prohibition order refers to censorship laws, although the censorship board has not seen any of the material that GALZ was going to exhibit. GALZ has gone to court to get the order declared illegal, but although the judicial system is said to be fairly independent in Zimbabwe, there is slight chance that they will win the day in this battle between the ant and the elephant, or perhaps one could say between the ant and the cock (the synbol of Zanu). GALZ are not present to exhibit, but the so called "GALZ issue" is very much in the air. The South African publishers who have joined the book fair have set up a special stand with literature on human rights, a clear demonstration against government interference and its persecution of homosexuals. In May South Africa was the first country in the world to adopt a safe-guard against discrimination of people because of their sexual orientation. The Association of Namibian Publishers (ANP) on Tuesday 30 July issued a statement (not quoted so far in the press), saying among other things: "We find no justification for the Government of Zimbabwe's intervention to once again prevent the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) from participating in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. We cannot see any violation of accepted international norms by the fact that literature by and on homsexuals is displayed at an international book fair. Gays and lesbians are as much part of a world wide, complex socio-cultural set-up as many other minority groups. We do not believe that they are violating anyone else's rights by their own orientation and way of living as long as they do not impose this upon others." Mai Palmberg, Harare July 31, 1996 Typed from a fax by Bjoern Skolander