MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday made an about turn on homosexuality, insisting he wanted to see gay rights enshrined in the envisaged new constitution.
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Tsvangirai said gay rights were also "human rights" that should be respected by all Zimbabweans.
"It's a very controversial subject in my part of the world.
"My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody," he told the BBC.
"To me, it's a human right," he added.
In the past, Mr Tsvangirai joined President Mugabe's condemnation of gay relations saying he concurred with the President's views abhorring homosexuality.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is on record condemning gays and lesbians and on a number of occasions, once called them "worse than pigs and dogs".
Both leaders have previously refused to embrace homosexuality in the constitution, which is being drawn up and will be put to a referendum next year. Homosexual acts are illegal in Zimbabwe, as in most African countries where many people view homosexuality as unChristian and unAfrican.
Mr Tsvangirai told BBC there was a "very strong cultural feeling" against homosexuality in Zimbabwe, but he would defend gay rights if he became president.
Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday castigated the MDC-T leader, saying he was not in sync with reality on the ground.
He said Mr Tsvangirai, just as he has opposed indigenisation, now wanted to go against the country's tide by condoning gay relations.
"He is misguided and unfortunately he does not understand what is happening in Zimbabwe.
"He thinks Zimbabwe is Europe, this is Africa. He has opposed indigenisation and which black person would support you when you oppose indigenisation?" Cde Gumbo said.
Zanu-PF, Cde Gumbo said, was clear on its abhorrence of homosexuality.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said his party will be guided by what people said during the constitution-making process.
He said what Mr Tsvangirai meant was that he would accept the practice should it be endorsed by the people of Zimbabwe.
MDC vice president Mr Edwin Mushoriwa said his party will be guided by the outcome of the constitution-making process.
"We will be guided by the views of the people," said Mr Mushoriwa.
In March last year, Mr Tsvangirai said gay rights were not up for discussion in Zimbabwe.
"I totally agree with the President, Nyaya yekuti umwe murume anofemera mugotsi wemumwe murume haina kunaka," he said at the time.
Mr Tsvangirai's U-turn on homosexuality is the second time in as many weeks that he has backtracked on a major issue.
He has tended to go with national sentiment when addressing local gatherings, but changes once he hits Western shores adopting positions that dovetail with Western thinking.
On indigenisation, Mr Tsvangirai claimed he supported the process only to trash it when he was in the United States recently.
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Now Mr PM you have lost it, that Mugabe is a 'dictator' does not necessarily mean that all his policies are wrong and you as an opposition leader should oppose them and all that he stands for, judge for yourself (and for our sack) what to take of him and leave the rest, those western powers - do you really think that they want democracy that much ?(ref: occupy wall st et. al.), and for the record I do support you and voted for you since 2000, but now I wonder if you are the kind of leader I want, are one of these gay things too or there is a voice behind you? Work up Mr PM
Oh Mr. Prime Minister what a shame! How will feel if your biological son is being sodomised by another man.
I am an African Mother and it tears my heart to see African men and leaders like you agreeing and nodding to such ungodly, filthy acts.
Do you want the doom of Zimababwe? Do you know that as a leader, by giving such an abominable act a nod, you are in effect opening a legal door for God's judgement upon your beautiful country. I have lived in Zimbabwe and I love that country like Ghana my Motherland. May God turn your heart to see reason and act like our president, who did not mince words on the subject. Zimbabweans have suffered enough, please do not add to their woes or generations will curse your memory. We are not Europeans, if they are ok with it, fine; our values as Africans frown on men sleeping with men and giving birth the prolapse of their rectums. God bless you as you change your mind. Thank you Adjoa, Ghana
themoafrica, how many " prolapsed rectums" have you seen as a result of gay sex? Stop making up nonsense.
Hmm... Zimbabwe might not be so far behind Libya after all. The spin machine is already starting up, and The Herald is posting articles that seem intended to stir up hate for Tsvangirai, but actually stir up more hate for his opponents among the homosexual-favoring world superpowers. I'd still put money on a NATO invasion of Uganda first, though.
The thing is the MDC-T leader is a puppet of the west and everybody knows it. He wines and dines with them and he knows how they deal with people like him after they have spent so much on him. so he has no choice save to say 'Yes boss' and suck their boots. Even it he does not mean it deep down. Becoz here in Zimbabwe ndiwo anonzi Mashura. At least if he had said that is personal and it cannot be discussed, the better. There is a lot of talk about witchcraft all over the world but its not said. So why dont they just keep quiet about this issue instead of smeering themselves with dirt. its bad To God and to his electoral populace. Let it start with his kids. Then we see what happens. Morgan must be told to make his No a No and Yes a Yes. He is not assertive and I doubt his leadership abilities. He has de-campaigned himself big time. Mweya wetsvina chaiwo!!!
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