Zimbabwe has rejected calls to endorse gay rights and to join the International Criminal Court which entitles The Hague to try anyone accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression.
Vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa who attended the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group in Geneva recently said the West had gone to the extent of offering budgetary support to poor countries that embrace gay rights but Zimbabwe rejected the idea.
Zimbabwe is currently facing an economic crisis and cash shortages because it cannot get financial assistance from outside. It is financing its budget primarily from tax revenues.
According to The Herald, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabhiza said: “We have rejected two broad categories of recommendations, that is the one to do with marriage between people of the same sex and another one to do with the Rome Statutes. Those are the two that we have outrightly rejected.”
President Robert Mugabe has for more than two decades denigrated gays saying they are worse than dogs and pigs.
Zimbabwe has also refused to sign the Rome Statutes which means that its leaders including Mugabe cannot be hauled before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity unless this is sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council.
More than 120 countries are signatory to the Rome Statutes but the United States is not a signatory. South Africa also pulled out recently.
See also:
Mugabe not alone in his dislike of gays
Mugabe tells West to keep its rotten aid if it is tied to accepting gays
Mugabe said he means it-gays are worse than dogs and pigs
Mugabe threatens to deal with GALZ
British Lord asks what UK is doing to haul Mugabe before ICC
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