The police in Zimbabwe known as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have discovered a WhatsApp group with 1,300 gay members.
The group named ‘Private Lounge,’ was discovered in Harare and is used to promote gay and homosexuality relationships.
The lid was blown open after the police arrested a 25-year-old supermarket worker and a Form four teenage student boy on suspicion of engaging in a same-sex relationship. Upon interrogation and investigation, it was discovered they allegedly belonged to a gay and homosexual Whatsapp group.
Police investigations revealed that the student boy joined the group in January 2024, where he told members he was looking for a sexual partner.
He was contacted by the 25-year-old man who was already a group member and the indicated interest in becoming his sexual partner.
They thereafter arranged to meet at Machipisa Shopping Centre. However, problems started after the boy visited the man’s residence and under the influence of alcohol became intimate and took pictures of them in compromising situations.
The boy’s father reportedly saw the pictures and love messages sent to his son by the man and subsequently blocked his number.
The man’s attempt to reconnect with the boy on October 7, 2024, using his mother’s phone number infuriated the father who reported the matter to the police and the 25-year-old man was arrested.
Confirming the arrest, the National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, stated that “we confirm that we have picked up two suspects who have assisted us to unearth a gay and homosexual WhatsApp group with more than 1,000 participants who have been meeting at various places and houses in Harare. Investigations are still in progress.”
The police added investigation is ongoing into all the members of the group.