Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is reportedly furious over pink rubbish bins which are being used throughout Bulawayo – the country's second largest city.
The anti-gay leader – who recently called British Prime Minister David Cameron “satanic” for backing gay rights – wants the items removed, despite the area suffering a waste removal crisis in recent months.
Donated to the city's council by lesbian and gay pressure group, the Sexual Rights Centre, the bins have caused a storm among Zimbabwean homophobes, including Mugabe.
According to a report on the Pink Humanist website, Mugabe says the council and mayor should have shunned the SRC offer.
But the local mayor, Thabo Moyo, has welcomed the donation and stated that any vandalism will not be tolerated.
Seven of the bins are currently out on the streets, and the mayor hopes others will follow, the Pink Humanist site adds.
The news comes just weeks after a Zimbabwean legislator was released on police bail – after
spending Christmas in the cells for allegedly calling Mugabe gay.
Lynette Karenyi was released when the state failed to present reasons preventing her release.
According to news site New Zimbabwe, the Chimanimani West MP was
granted $200 bail on 20 December, but retained in custody because the
state immediately invoked a law which allows detention for up to
seven days after bail is granted.
Karenyi is accused of undermining the authority of, or insulting, the president.
She allegedly told party supporters that Mugabe – who is famed for
hating homosexuals – had gay affairs with a Zanu PF politburo member
as well as with former president, Canaan Banana, who was jailed for two
years for sodomy in 1997.
Kirenyi denies the allegations.
