Mugabe: No gay rights in Zimbabwe

[March 26, 2010]  HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwe's president says gay rights will not be protected in a constitution being drawn up under a power-sharing deal.

State radio on Friday quoted President Robert Mugabe saying that Western rights groups have called for constitutional reforms to include gay rights. He calls that "insanity."

Same-sex acts are illegal in Zimbabwe. Mugabe once described homosexuals as "lower than pigs and dogs."

Condemnation of gays is common in Africa. Ugandan lawmakers have proposed imposing the death penalty on some gays. A gay couple is on trial in Malawi, charged with unnatural acts and gross indecency.

In Africa, only South Africa has legalized same-sex marriage. Even there the gap between the liberal constitution and social attitudes can be wide.

[Associated Press]

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