Over the past few weeks, news about human rights violations and arrests in Zimbabwe have made it to the mainstream. The government of Zimbabwe has been cracking down on protesters who are speaking up against corruption. Online, many have pledged their support to the people of Zimbabwe in the form of tweets and Instagram posts. There have been prayers, trending hashtags, donations, allegiance pledges and support.
22-year-old South African Media Personality, Lasizwe Dambuza, on the 3rd of August also joined in support for the social movement by tweeting, “I Stand with Zimbabwe.”
I STAND WITH ZIMBABWE!🇿🇼
— Lasizwe (@lasizwe) August 3, 2020
His tweets were well received amongst many Zimbabweans who immediately sent gratitude to Lasizwe, the young influencer, for lending his voice to the movement.
Lasizwe THANK YOU! And to think more South African celebrities have spoken out more than our own Zimbabwean ones have. Stand with us💓💓💓💓 #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
— comment allez vous? (@lilbbymutha) August 3, 2020
Thank you so much Lasizwe for supporting us in this tough time😢❤
— Rose (@ThelmaTembo5) August 3, 2020
,😭🇿🇼may the lord bless u lasizwe. We thank u very much fr remembering us. U are such a blessed soul with a kindest heart. Every work of ur hand shalk be blessed
— Barbara Kisimisi (@BarbaraKisimisi) August 3, 2020
But there were also a ton of homophobic slurs directed at him, many of them reminding him about their disgust of his sexual orientation. Tweets like “We don’t stand with gays”, “Unfortunately we don’t stand with gays”, and “no gays please… we are Christians.”
That didn’t deter him, though. On the 5th of August, heartbroken, Lasizwe tweeted his disappointment with the homophobia he experienced, even from other Africans.
“The homophobia I am currently experiencing from my fellow African brothers and sisters is heart breaking!” he said. “We still have a long way to go for the LGBTQI community to be free in Africa!”
The homophobia I am currently experiencing from my fellow african brothers and sisters is heart breaking! We still have a long way to go for the LGBTQI community to be free in Africa!
— Lasizwe Dambuza (@lasizwe) August 5, 2020
