Harare Police Uncover 1,000-Member Gay Network
The police in Harare have revealed the existence of a 1,000-member gay network operating through a WhatsApp group named “Private Lounge,” which facilitates illegal relationships.
This discovery followed the arrest of a 25-year-old man and a teenager in Highfield involved in an unlawful gay relationship.
The man lives in the New Canaan area of Highfield and works at a local supermarket, while the teenage boy, a Form Four student, resides in Glen Norah B Extension.
Investigations showed that the teenager joined the WhatsApp group in January 2024, where he sought a partner. A member of the group, who was already connected to him, reached out, and they arranged to meet at Machipisa Shopping Centre.
In May, the teenager visited the man’s home, where they reportedly drank together before becoming intimate.
The teenager’s father discovered romantic messages from the man on his son’s phone and blocked his number.
On October 7, 2024, the man tried to contact the teenager using the mother’s phone, which led the father to inform the police, resulting in their arrest.
The man is now in police custody, while the teenager has been released to his parents as the investigation continues.
It should be noted that gay relationships are illegal in Zimbabwe.
Herald
