HARARE - Zimbabwe police yesterday announced an investigation into charges of homosexual rape against the former president, Mr Canaan Banana. Lawyers of a former aide who says he was abused by Mr Banana during the five years he acted as his aide de camp said they intended to sue the former head of state for damages.
The aide, Zimbabwean police inspector Jefta Dube, was convicted on Monday of murdering a fellow policeman who goaded him by calling him "Banana's wife". He says he was forced into a subservient homosexual relationship by his former boss.
The allegations were likely to embarrass President Mugabe, who has taken a hardline stance against homosexuality. Mr Mugabe has described gays as perverts "who are worse than dogs and pigs" and said those who paraded as gays should be lynched.