Zimbabweans Cry Foul Over Somizi Ban After Ellen Degeneres Allowed, Question Country’s Inconsistent Policies
Zimbabweans on social media have expressed confusion over Zimbabwe’s immigration policies following US television personality Ellen DeGeneres’ visit. Ellen’s visit comes barely six months after South African media personality Somizi “Somgaga” Mhlongo was banned from entering the country because of his sexuality.
Both Ellen DeGeneres and Somizi Mhlongo are openly gay. In fact, Ellen visited Zimbabwe with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
While many Zimbabweans are celebrating Ellen and Portia’s safari in the country, some questioned why Somizi had been banned.
They alleged that Zimbabwe was being discriminatory as it had banned Somizi from entering the country last year.
The openly gay celebrity chef was supposed to grace the official reopening of Garwe Restaurant as a guest chef last November.
He was unable to fulfil this commitment after he was banned after Zanu PF party youths and a group of churches blocked the visit claiming Somizi would corrupt the morals of Zimbabweans.
However, it’s unclear if Somizi was banned due to a government directive or if event organisers pulled out for fear of retribution or boycott.
Noting the difference in the treatment of Ellen DeGeneres and Somizi, here is how some Zimbabweans reacted:
@zimrobbie
So Ellen Degeneres can visit coz she’s white gay but Somizi needs press conferences and shit? Ha yas
@Mrs_CallMeK
Fact is ellen was welcome but Somizi isn’t. Why was is the church group suddenly concerned when Somizi is coming but wasn’t, when Ellen was coming. It’s hypocritical don’t you think?
@TetsSk
Such a contradiction. That’s very interesting. Maybe Ellen is an exception because she’s white and carries with her a lot of American dollars in her purse.
@MISSCHINDIYA
The energy Ellen is getting is so different from the energy that Somizi got.
Bare people and high ranking individuals quoting her photos with “welcome to Zimbabwe Ellen.”
Meanwhile the latter was getting threats before he even set foot in Zim.
@dirtytino
Zimbabwe Christian Community blocked Somizi from coming to Zimbabwe because of his sexual orientation. Why didn’t they do the same for Ellen?
@TapiwaMunjoma
So we banned @somizi from coming to Zim because he is gay but allowed Ellen DeGeneres and her wife in?? How does that even work?? I love my country but it can be exhausting. We gotta change.
The same organisations (Zanu and that Mapostori Church) who made noise then should have made noise. I don’t care about people’s sexuality or how they choose to live their lives but I’m against double standards.
However, some people argued that Somizi attracted the attention of anti-gay groups in the country due to the publicity he received ahead of the event.
They said that Somizi’s estranged spouse Mohale Motaung had visited Zimbabwe quietly, just like Ellen, and that there had been no problems.
@blackheartdayve
Lol koz Ellen is just out there seeing lions not headlining an event, besides somizi has been here before.
@incognito_tony
Steve Harvey came but Zwitter shut him off. While the likes of ZTA must up the game, Zwitter needs cleansing. Remember Somizi’s near visit? Am sure if Ellen’s visit was known in advance she’d have received similar treatment and aborted the trip; yeah, Zim’s Queerphobic like that.
@PhoenixRise03
Somizi was going to Zim for some eatery publicity stunt. Ellen quietly went for holiday, no drama
@mzilankatha277
They also allowed Somizi’s ex (Mohale) to visit Chinhoyi Caves- that counts for something right?
@W3Zhira
It’s always right to get facts right. Somizi was banned after The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe wrote to the gvt saying it opposed his visit on the invitation of Gava Restaurant for an exhibition cooking event. It’s different from someone visiting Zimbabwe privately.
@nzirayashe
There is nothing wrong with Ellen coming to Zimbabwe. It was foolish to ban Somizi too. However Ellen came privately and never announced her visit on media
@fezile_gumede
Ellen= tourist, Somizi work visit cum public event. Mohale his ex was in Vic falls in May. No noise was made. Let’s get facts straights-iharare
