Printer-friendly versionSend by emailPDF version

Two employees of Gay and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) – Ellen Chademana and Ignatius Mhambi – were arrested by police on the evening of 21 May. Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Department raided the offices after GALZ posted a letter in their office from former Mayor Willie Lewis Brown of San Francisco, criticising President Mugabe’s resistance to homosexuality. The police confiscated the letter, which they said 'undermines the authority of the president', and took several documents and computers. Chademana and Mhambi were arrested on allegations under Zimbabwe's censorship laws.

**STOP PRESS**
Chademana and Mhambi have been released on bail (Thursday 27 May). The Zimbabwe NGO forum said that Chademana and Mhambi, who were detained for seven days, were 'severely' assaulted by state security agents after their arrests and were threatened with further beatings.

We write to inform you of the detention of two employees of Gay and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)—Ellen Chademana and Ignatius Mhambi—on the evening of 21st May. They were arrested after a raid of the GALZ office by the Central Intelligence Department. The officers came with a search warrant looking for evidence that GALZ was dealing in hard drugs and/or were in possession of pornography. They took all the GALZ computers and other materials from the office. The officers then came back and arrested everyone in the GALZ office. Only Ellen and Ignatius were there. Both Ellen and Ignatius are still in custody. Derek Matyszak, a human rights lawyer who has been working with GALZ for a long time, has been trying to get in to see them. Ellen’s health is of particular concern as she is diabetic and needs her medication and food.

We understand that it is currently unsafe for GALZ employees and volunteers who are outside of Zimbabwe at various meetings, including an OSISA meeting in Johannesburg, to return to Zimbabwe as there is a concern that they will be arrested at the airport.

This arrest and raid are part of growing pressure in Zimbabwe against LGBT rights. About a month ago, two foreign student interns were stopped at the airport trying to leave Zimbabwe and interrogated and detained. All of the GALZ material they had in their possession was confiscated.

At the moment, we are waiting for word from Chesterfield Samba, who is at a meeting in Namibia, to determine a strategy going forward and particularly what those of us outside of Zimbabwe can do to assist. Also, we know Fadzai is on this list and we are sure she can also provide more information and updates.

Ian Swartz
Priti Patel