In a move that has sparked international concern, Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, announced the government’s decision to block a university scholarship aimed at supporting young LGBTQ+ individuals. This scholarship, sponsored by GALZ, an association for LGBTQ+ people in Zimbabwe, has been offering support to students between the ages of 18 and 35 since 2018 without prior issues.
The decision comes in response to an online advertisement for the scholarship, which drew a vehement reaction from Chiwenga, a figure known for his devout Catholic faith and history as a former army commander. In a statement issued Thursday, the Vice President condemned the scholarship as “a direct challenge” to the Zimbabwean government’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, declaring it contrary to the country’s “moral or cultural affinities.”
“Our schools and institutions of higher learning will not entertain applicants, let alone enroll persons associated with such alien, anti-life, un-African and un-Christian values,” Chiwenga stated, reflecting the government’s rejection of what it perceives as foreign influences on Zimbabwean society.
This policy has been criticized by human rights organizations as an extension of Zimbabwe’s long-standing homophobic practices. The decision to block the scholarship not only denies educational opportunities to LGBTQ+ youth but also reinforces the social stigma and discrimination they face.
