By Mtandazo Dube
A GROUP of about 40 gays and lesbians recently “invaded” the popular music joint, Book Café at Five Avenue Shopping Centre, where they paraded their “unholy acts” in front of disgusted patrons who had gone to the joint to see afro-pop artiste John Pfumojena performing.

Police are now investigating Pamberi Trust, the owners of Mannenberg and Book Café, following this incident which happened early this month.
Investigations carried by The Sunday Mail Leisure have revealed that on June 4, at least 40 suspected gays and lesbians converged at Book Café during a live performance by afro-pop artiste John Pfumojena.

This paper has it on good authority that the sexual deviants arrived at the joint aboard two buses at around 5.30pm to watch Pfumojena’s performance which they had booked in advance.
Management at the Book Café is said to have allowed the 40 to watch the show for just a dollar each instead of the US$3 that the young musician usually charges.
Ian White, the operations manager for Pamberi Trust, confirmed that on the said day a group of white Zimbabweans arrived for an early evening show at the Book Café with some of the men dressed like women.

“We had a booking, a normal booking and we allowed the group to come through and watch the performance by John (Pfumojena). We did not know who they were or what they were up to, they asked for a service which we offer and we agreed on terms.
“You need to know that we do not do background checks on anyone. We were just as surprised as everyone else upon realisation that some of the people we had allowed to come for the show were gay, but there was nothing we could do about it,” said White.

White’s boss Paul Brickhill dissociated himself from the gays and lesbians, saying he is a decent family man. Brickhill went on to water down the incident saying his organisation holds 950 events a year and does not think that “this one little skirmish should be taken to mean that we are all like that”.
Staff members at the Book Café who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution said they were shocked when they saw men dressed like women and openly kissing in full view of other patrons, some of whom had to leave the place.

“Most of us just left the place. We could not take it, it was just horrible and nauseating, in fact, one of our colleagues vomited when he saw a gay couple kiss. Not all of them though were gay, some were ‘normal’ but a sizeable number of them, especially the men, were acting quite bizarrely.
“They were dressed in miniskirts, wigs, bras and they were wearing make-up. They just stayed for the duration of John’s performance and immediately left after he was done saying that they were going to a 70s party somewhere in the capital,” said one of the staff members.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) spokesperson Inspector Zimbili said following these reports the police were going to institute full investigations into the matter.
“The law is very clear on that matter; if there was a gay parade or festival at that mall, we are going to carry a full investigation.

“According to law gay festivals or parades are not allowed as stated in the Codification and Reform Act; what they did is considered as sodomy and as police all parties who were involved will be dealt with,” said Inspector Zimbili.

His Excellency President Robert Mugabe is on record for blasting gays and lesbians whom he has described as being worse than dogs and pigs. The artiste, Pfumojena, who entertained the 40, says he had no idea what he was in for when the large crowd turned up for his show.
“I was told by Penny Yon, the arts administrator, to come in that day even though I was no longer doing Saturday slots. To me it had just been a normal day but I realised too late that I had been hired to perform for an unusual crowd,” said Pfumojena.

The young star, who says he will never perform at Book Café or take part in their activities, regrets having accepted the invitation to do the “special performance”.
“They were taking off their clothes, actually this one guy took off his trouser right in front of me, it was disgusting.

“After all, they had been allowed in at a discount — at my expense,” fumed Pfumojena.
This incident, however, did not come as surprise as rumours of bizarre activities including homosexuality at the Book Café and Mannenberg have long been circulating.-The Sunday Mail