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October 2011 Vol 37, National News

PM refuses to give in on gay rights

By Staff reporter and agencies   Wed, Nov 02, 2011

ZIMBABWE Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has suffered relentless attacks from homophobic mobs rallied by a Wales based Zimbabwean website and Zanu PF State media after saying Gays gay have rights too.

In a statement on Wednesday, the MDC-T leader sought to bring “finality” to the debate. Here is the relevant section of his statement addressing the subject:

“I want to put finality and closure to an issue that has been misinterpreted, the issue of the so-called gay rights. My beliefs on this issue are a matter of public record. My beliefs manifest themselves in my practice.

I am a Christian associated with the Methodist church. I am a father. I am a grandfather. I am a family man.

I am a Zimbabwean and I know the strong feelings of Zimbabweans about this issue. I have those strong feelings too but in the end, Zimbabweans are making their own Constitution and it is that Constitution which will bind every Zimbabwean.

What I refuse to do as a loyal son of God and as a social democrat is to persecute, to judge, to condemn and to vilify people for their own opinions because judgment is a preserve of God the Almighty.

The Book of Luke Chapter 6 verse 37: “Do not judge and you will not be judged, do not condemn and you will not be condemned.”

The Book of John Chapter 8 verse 7:  “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone…”

So while I may differ with them, as a Christian and as a social democrat, I refuse to throw a stone at them.

God bless you.

And God bless Zimbabwe. 

I thank You."

By Staff reporter and agencies

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