Zimbabwe

Section 73 of the criminal code of Zimbabwe outlaws same-sex relations under “sodomy” and “indecent acts” clauses. The constitution bans same-sex marriage, and no explicit legal protections exist for LGBTIQ people. The government has carried out a long-lasting campaign against the recognition of the human rights of people of queer experience. The ruling party, Zanu-PF, recently pledged to intensify the enforcement of these bans as part of its 2025 resolutions. This has given law enforcement and government officials the green light, while the criminal code provides legal cover to target, arrest, extort, and harass sexual and gender minorities.

 Social backlash and stigma persist. In 2025, as LGBTIQ groups became more visible, online and offline homophobic sentiment and harassment also grew, reflecting deep social conservatism. Social media analysis from 2025 found that 40 percent of online posts regarding LGBTIQ people were negative, while only 5 percent were positive. Violence and harassment at the hands of private individuals remain issues, while police are reportedly unresponsive. Societal opinion of sexual and gender diversity is largely negative. The media tends to depict LGBTIQ persons negatively and sensationalizes LGBTIQ issues. Politicians regularly use anti-LGBTIQ hate speech, while religious organizations campaign against LGBTIQ equality.

Although several LGBTIQ organizations were able to register prior to 2025, a strong climate of fear currently exists among civil society leaders across the board, discouraging those who seek to formally register and disclose private information, including funding sources, membership, and employee addresses. After years of legislative debate and opposition from civil society, President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act, 2025 No. 1 in April 2025. This law introduces several restrictive measures, including mandatory registration of all non-governmental organizations—covering trusts and community-based groups—and government oversight with broad powers to monitor and intervene in the governance of organizations. Violations of the Act carry heavy consequences, including fines and imprisonment for individual leaders.

Zimbabwe has taken a small but important legal step toward the recognition of intersex people. In mid‑2025, the government launched a legal reform process to recognize and protect the rights of intersex people, including through protection from nonconsensual medical procedures and other human rights violations. The Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry has indicated it is implementing UN Universal Periodic Review recommendations on intersex protections, supported by the President. The 2025 reform process is explicitly framed around intersex people’s rights, leaving criminalization of same‑sex relations and lack of protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and many trans people untouched.