The majority of Zimbabweans, just like many other Africans, still frown upon homosexuality, which is not only outlawed in the country but also generally considered taboo. According to a reportpublishedby Afrobarometer in 2024, though tolerance toward homosexuals improved in Zimbabwe between 2014 and 2023, as many as 78 per cent of the population said they would not like to have homosexual people as neighbours — slightly higher than the continent-wide average. Although no Zimbabwean has publicly admitted to getting X payouts in the past, many other users across the world have shared their earnings.
In 2023, US-based writer Brian Krassenstein, who at the time had about 750,000 followers, claimed that X paid him$25,000. In the same year, SK, a creator with approximately 230,000 followers, claimed to have earned$2,236from Twitter, while political commentator Benny Johnson, with 1.7 million followers, reported earning$10,000. Visualisation of the tweet network around LGBTQI conversations in Zimbabwe.
On 29 July 2024, X account, self-described as a “chief economic analyst and mining project director,” and with strong links to the ruling ZANU-PF party, C. MUKUNGUNUGWA, operating under the handle@CMukungunugwaand with over 14,500 followers, posted this message: “Gift Ostallos Siziba has been confirmed to be Gay @Cde_Ostallos Pasi neNgochani (down with homosexuals) All those under the LGBTQ in Zimbabwe should face the Full wrath of the law!!” Sizibais a former opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator and deputy national spokesperson. The malicious doxing is accompanied by an image of Siziba seemingly being kissed by another man on the cheek, juxtaposed with other images of the individuals, branded: “LGBTQI- Blue Movement.” The post, tapping into the public rage on homosexuality, sought to discredit the main opposition political party, together with its former leaders, who also include Nelson Chamisa, who was at the time associated with theBlue Movement.
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MUKUNGUNUGWA’s post, sugar-coated with the contentious LGBTQI discourse as a direct attack on CCC and its leadership, for supposedly embracing what is considered taboo in Zimbabwe, was able to generate a massive 30,500 views and 160 interactions. Of the 160, there were 109 replies, 10 reposts, and 41 likes. Some replies, such as the one byPadare-Enkundleni, garnered over 2,000 views.
Moreover, the originator of the post would even comment on replies to his post. The following are some of the replies to C.H. MUKUNGUNUGWA’s post.
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