CCS Webinar Examines Struggles to Decolonise Queer Movement in Zimbabwe

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The UKZN Centre for Civil Society recently hosted a webinar that investigated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (questioning), intersex, asexual, and (agender) (LGBTQIA)+ Rights and Movements, titled: Struggle to Decolonising Queer Movement in Zimbabwe.

The webinar unpacked queer history and politics from many regions that have inspired and influenced African queer politics and exhibited their commitment to self-organisation motivated by a desire to change the narrative, environment, politics, and rights of LGBTQI people in Zimbabwe.

The event was facilitated by Dr Danford Tafadzwa Chibvongodze, UKZN Post-Doctoral Fellow: Centre for Civil Society of the School of Built Environment and Development Studies featuring Mr Samuel Matsikure, Human Rights Activist and Programmes Manager at Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life (LGBTQI) association in Zimbabwe.

Said Matsikure: ‘I’m excited to see some developments, for many years, girls were the only organisation that focused on LGBTQI issues which in a way was quite challenging when you must try and address and give space or services for quite a diverse group of people within limited resources,’ he explained.

He revealed that there were various gay and lesbian groups organised in different spaces although they were criminalised by law under criminal qualification and Dutch law which introduced some of these provisions, however, when it came to independence, most of the underground groups were predominantly White and the Black community was almost invisible.

‘When LBGTQI engagements took place, Black people would not be allowed or charged for entry as they were poor with little to no resources to prohibit the Black gay, bisexual men or trans people out of those spaces,’ he added.

However, there have been developments amongst more emerging groups that have helped to refocus on certain things that are pertinent in the movement, especially in relation to policy and law reform, since these members of the community had previously had difficulty enforcing the movement

Furthermore, the movement has grown since new organisations have emerged over the past decade, and existing strategies have been put in place which recognise the need for educational programmes within the community to steer away from patriarchal and self-stigma issues.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photograph: Supplied