HARARE – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has issued a strong condemnation of alleged “recruitment” tactics targeting disadvantaged students.
These tactics, involving scholarships specifically offered to members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community are being denounced as “unlawful, unchristian, anti-Zimbabwean, and unAfrican.”
Chiwenga expressed concerns that these scholarship offers, funded by “foreign interests,” could undermine the country’s moral and cultural fabric. He emphasized that LGBT activities contradict both Christian values and traditional African norms, which Zimbabwe deeply adheres to.
“The Government of Zimbabwe strongly and firmly rejects and denounces as unlawful, unchristian, anti-Zimbabwean and unAfrican insidious attempts by foreign interests to entice, lure and recruit, Zimbabwe’s less privileged but able students into Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender activities and malpractices through offers of educational scholarships.
“Zimbabwe has legislated against all such deviances, making any offers predicated on the same aberrations both unlawful and criminal, and a grave and gross affront on our national values and ethos as a Christian Nation.
“To that end, Government sees such scholarship offers as a direct challenge on its authority, and thus will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to enforce national laws, and to protect and defend national values.
“Our schools and institutions of higher learning will not entertain applicants, let alone enroll persons associated with such alien, anti-life, un-African and unchristian values which are being promoted and cultivated by, as well as practised in decadent societies with whom we share no moral or cultural affinities.
“Zimbabwe is a sovereign African state with definite laws and values that identify it, cutting it apart from other mores,” Chiwenga said.
Responding to these perceived threats, the government promised decisive action. They declared such scholarship offers illegal and criminal, citing laws already in place against “deviances.”
Vice President Chiwenga specifically warned that the government “will not hesitate to take appropriate measures” to enforce existing laws and protect national values.
The statement further emphasized that educational institutions in Zimbabwe will not tolerate any affiliation with “alien, anti-life, unAfrican and unChristian values” associated with these scholarships.
He categorized them as practices of “decadent societies” with which Zimbabwe does not share values.
The government encouraged eligible students to seek legitimate scholarship opportunities through official government channels instead of succumbing to these “abominable and devilish offers.”
