EDITOR – I’M VERY angry as I write this letter to you.
I recently heard and read the story of a St John’s College teacher who announced his sexual orientation as a homosexual during school assembly.
What’s worse is, the said homosexual, Dr Neil Hovelmeir, got the backing of the school board to announce his sexuality.
The headmaster and deputy also had no problem with what Dr Holvelmeier did.
Are these people crazy?
They should have known better!
For starters, homosexuality is something taboo and illegal to us as Zimbabweans.
It is despicable.
Zimbabwean law is very clear on homosexual behaviour. Laws passed in 2006 criminalise any actions perceived as homosexual. In August 1995, former President Robert Mugabe said: “It degrades human dignity. It’s unnatural, and there is no question ever of allowing these people to behave worse than dogs and pigs. If dogs and pigs do not do it, why must human beings? We have our own culture, and we must re-dedicate ourselves to our traditional values that make us human beings. … What we are being persuaded to accept is sub-animal behaviour and we will never allow it here. If you see people parading themselves as lesbians and gays, arrest them and hand them over to the police.”
I’m sure there are several students who actually looked up to that teacher as he interacted with them, perhaps everyday.
How did this teacher influence students?
Remember these are impressionable students in their formative years!
In fact I keep thinking: What led Dr Hovelmeir to disclose his sexuality in front of school children?
Was he obliged to do so?
How safe are children at St John’s College?
Were any of them abused by this gay doctor?
I say so because there may be cases of students who may have been sodomised but never said a word to anyone, including their parents.
Parents and guardians, this is the time to seriously talk to our children about gays and lesbians, clearly pointing out that gays and lesbians have no place in Zimbabwe.

Mai Charmaine
Mt Pleasant, Harare.