HARARE
–
A
Harare
man
was
stoned
to
death
on
Tuesday
after
he
had
mocked
the
suspect
by
referring
to
him
as
gay.
The
incident
was
confirmed
by
the
ZRP
via
the
law
enforcement
organisation’s
official
X
handle
on
Tuesday.
Said
the
police.
“On
6
January
2025,
police
in
Harare
arrested
Benedict
Rueben
in
connection
with
a
case
of
murder
which
occurred
at
Boka
Bus
terminus
along
Harare–Masvingo
Road.
“The
suspect
hit
the
victim,
Maxwell
Mahanzu,
32,
with
a
stone
after
the
victim
mocked
him,
claiming
that
he
was
a
gay
since
he
was
wearing
earrings.
The
victim
died
on
the
spot.”
While
homosexuality
is
something
considered
normal
in
some
western
countries,
it
is
still
viewed
as
taboo
within
the
Zimbabwean
society.
Being
referred
to
as
gay,
for
many,
is
considered
an
insult.
Former
President
Robert
Mugabe
spoke
out
against
homosexuality
and
often
used
the
label
to
taunt
the
British
government
which
he
accused
of
relentless
interference
with
his
rule.