Staff Reporter

Tavimbanashe Chawatama (28) and Leonard Nyakudya (25) appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court on charges of sodomy after a personal dispute led to an unexpected disclosure of their alleged relationship and actions.

According to the State's case, the two men reportedly began a relationship in August 2023. They lived together and were alleged to have engaged in consensual same-sex relations, occasionally recording themselves during the acts using their mobile phones. For a year, their relationship remained discreet until an altercation brought their situation to the attention of law enforcement.

The matter surfaced on the 27th of August 2024, when a disagreement arose between Chawatama and Nyakudya over accusations of infidelity. The argument escalated, and Nyakudya decided to leave their shared home. As he was preparing to move out, Chawatama noticed some of his money was missing, further heightening tensions between the two.

In an attempt to resolve the missing money issue, both men decided to involve the police. However, as they narrated their story to the authorities including details about their living arrangements and their relationship, they inadvertently revealed information that led to their arrest on charges of sodomy.

The disclosure of their private life to the police, intended to be a complaint about theft, turned into a criminal case. Both accused were taken into custody but were granted USD$50 bail each. The case has since been remanded to the 6th of September 2024 for further hearing.