- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Male illegal, female legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- Female equal, male N/A
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Public Opinion
According to recent survey data, there appears to be strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights in Zimbabwe.
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Homosexual activity in Zimbabwe is male illegal, female legal.
Current status
Since Jun 10, 1891
Male illegal, female legal
In 1891, the British colonial administration ruled that a law criminalising homosexuality in the Cape of Good Hope applied in Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe). This law only applies to men who face a fine and up to ten years in prison.
Enforcement was reportedly rare until 1995 when then-President Robert Mugabe began a fierce tirade of homophobic comments with the laws even being used to frame political opponents, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Enforcement was reportedly rare until 1995 when then-President Robert Mugabe began a fierce tirade of homophobic comments with the laws even being used to frame political opponents, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Same-sex marriage in Zimbabwe is banned.
Current status
Since Mar 19, 2013
Banned
Article 78 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe explicitly prohibits same-sex marriage.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Zimbabwe is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Dec 1, 1967
Imprisonment as punishment
According to Article 13 of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Law (Law No. 37) (1967), "undesirable" publications - defined as those considered "indecent", "obscene", "offensive" or "harmful to public morals" - are subject to punishment with a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.
More than that, there is the possibility of serious violations of freedom of association in the country due to the approval of a Bill to Amend the Private Voluntary Organizations Act (2023) which has caused concern from various international organizations and UN experts due to the possibility of serious violations of freedom of association in the country with the signing of the Bill by the president.
More than that, there is the possibility of serious violations of freedom of association in the country due to the approval of a Bill to Amend the Private Voluntary Organizations Act (2023) which has caused concern from various international organizations and UN experts due to the possibility of serious violations of freedom of association in the country with the signing of the Bill by the president.
Right to change legal gender in Zimbabwe is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Gender marker change is not allowed. Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”.
As a result of this, trans Zimbabweans face the risk of arrest for fraud if their gender expression does not match their identity cards.
As a result of this, trans Zimbabweans face the risk of arrest for fraud if their gender expression does not match their identity cards.
Gender-affirming care in Zimbabwe is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
Gender-affirming healthcare is not provided in the Zimbabwean public healthcare system. Most requests are rejected and the few that are accepted are often very expensive.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Zimbabwe is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
As there are no protocols around legal gender changes, non-binary self-identification is defacto not recognized in Zimbabwe.
LGBT discrimination in Zimbabwe is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2020
LGBT employment discrimination in Zimbabwe is no protections.
Current status
No protections
The Labour Act does not offer protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
LGBT housing discrimination in Zimbabwe is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Zimbabwe.
Same-sex adoption in Zimbabwe is single only.
Current status
Single only
Zimbabwe only permits adoption for married couples and single women. Single men can only adopt a prior family member. Same-sex couples are forbidden from adopting.
Intersex infant surgery in Zimbabwe is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal and widespread in Zimbabwe. Even adult intersex individuals receive surgery under coercion.
Serving openly in military in Zimbabwe is don't ask, don't tell.
Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Although not explicitly banned from serving, the illegality of homosexuality in Zimbabwe in practice criminalises the ability of LGBTIQ+ people to serve in the military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Zimbabwe is legal.
Current status
Legal
No explicit restrictions for LGBT people according to the National Blood Policy of Zimbabwe and the Standards for Blood Donation, Processing & Clinical Transfusion in Zimbabwe. However, sexual activity between men is illegal.
Conversion therapy in Zimbabwe is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in Zimbabwe and is widespread.
Equal age of consent in Zimbabwe is female equal, male n/a.
Current status
Since Jun 10, 1891
Female equal, male N/A
Age of consent for heterosexual couples and female homosexual couples is 16. Male homosexual couples age of consent is N/A because it is illegal.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Zimbabwe.
- Matabeleland North
- Matabeleland South
- Midlands
- Bulawayo (City)
- Harare (City)
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