A Ugandan tourist, Tom Ssekamwa, who was detained for 24 days in Zimbabwe for possessing a sex toy, has been acquitted and is now facing deportation. The 24-year-old was arrested on August 2 in Masvingo, a city 292 kilometers south of Harare, along with his Czech companion, Lucas Slavik. Their arrest occurred during a government crackdown on dissent ahead of a significant regional summit.
Ssekamwa was charged with criminal nuisance and violating Zimbabwe’s Censorship Act after authorities discovered a rubber sex toy in his luggage during a police search. However, this week, Magistrate Isaac Chikura dismissed the charges, stating that the possession of the sex toy did not pose a threat to public order or constitute a disturbance. The magistrate emphasized that the item was not intended for public exhibition and therefore did not violate any laws.
Ssekamwa’s lawyer, Knowledge Mabvuure, representing Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), revealed that his client is currently in the custody of immigration authorities, awaiting deportation. The process has been delayed because Ssekamwa’s phone, which is needed to access funds for an airline ticket, is still being held by the police.
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Meanwhile, Lucas Slavik, who was traveling with Ssekamwa, faced separate charges for allegedly inciting public unrest by filming a video claiming that Masvingo lacked basic utilities such as water and electricity. Although these charges were eventually dropped, Slavik was acquitted and deported last week.
The arrests were part of a broader government crackdown in the lead-up to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Harare, during which over 200 opposition members and civil society activists were detained, accused of plotting to disrupt the event.
Roseline Hanzi, another ZLHR representative, expressed concern over the impact these incidents could have on Zimbabwe’s reputation as a tourist destination. Hanzi warned that the arrest and subsequent treatment of foreign nationals could lead to international legal disputes if countries perceive that their citizens’ rights are being violated.
