Zimbabwe police have uncovered a 1,000-member gay syndicate using a WhatsApp group named “Private Lounge” to promote illegal same-s3x relationships.
This revelation comes after the arrest of a 25-year-old man and a teenage boy in Highfield, Harare, who were allegedly involved in an illicit gay relationship.
The man, employed at a local supermarket and residing in New Canaan, Highfield, and the teenager, a Form Four student from Glen Norah B Extension, had reportedly met through the WhatsApp group.
Police investigations revealed that the teenager joined the group in January 2024, where he introduced himself and sought a partner.
The man, already a member, contacted the teenager, leading to their first meeting at Machipisa Shopping Centre.
Their relationship allegedly progressed in May, when they became intimate after meeting at the man’s house.
The teenager’s father discovered love messages exchanged between the two on his son’s phone and subsequently blocked the man’s number.
However, the man attempted to reach out to the boy using his mother’s contact number, leading the father to report the matter to the police, resulting in the arrest of both parties on October 7, 2024.
The adult male was taken into custody, while the teenager was released into the care of his parents pending further investigations.
Zimbabwean police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests. “We confirm that we have picked up two suspects who have assisted us in uncovering a homosexual WhatsApp group with over 1,000 members. Investigations are still ongoing,” Nyathi said.
