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Chronicle Reporter

A NKULUMANE family whose daughter has publicly admitted to being a lesbian has been caught in the eye of the storm with society constantly shunning them and shaming them for encouraging a taboo culture.

Ayanda Gumbo recently came out as a lesbian but this has gone on to affect her family, with both her father, Philani Sibanda and mother Shillah Evah Sibanda being targeted for encouraging her into that lifestyle.

Philani Sibanda and Shillah Evah Sibanda

This has resulted in Ayanda on numerous occasions being beaten while her family has also been subject to a number of attacks.

“The family’s life is now complicated since Ayanda confessed to being lesbian, worse still we know that such relationships are not permitted in the country. Her mother used to run a salon but this now affected her as they were now perceived as the family that allows gays and lesbians it was so bad.

“Further, Ayanda was severely attacked and has visible scars on her neck with some unknown individuals even kidnapping and attempting to rape her, it is just fortunate that they did not go through with the said attack,” said a neighbour of the Sibanda’s who declined to be named.

Philani Sibanda

Investigations by this publication revealed that this was not the first time that the family has been subject to these attacks, as they have been also targeted for Philani’s political activities, which has resulted in their eldest daughter Primrose disappearing under mysterious circumstances.

Primrose Sibanda

“Philani was very active within the MDC and was one of those supporters who would participate in all meetings of the party and would also be in the forefront of recruiting new members into the party.

“It got to a point that he was even abducted severely beaten and his body dumped just close to his home. He could not report the matter to the police fearing that they would dismiss his case and was forced to go live at his rural home where he recuperated from the injuries,” said the family source.

Regarding the disappearance of Primrose, the family source revealed that when Philani went to recuperate at the rural areas, unknown assailants started targeting the family accusing them of hiding him and also backing the opposition party.

“It is at the height of these attacks that Primrose disappeared with no trace, even the police could not assist in helping locate her. Shillah Evah Sibanda herself was also attacked and we understand she suffered from migraines after the attacks and has also developed a heart condition.

“This is the difficult path the family has gone through now they even fear that they might lose their younger daughter, Ayanda, hence they have gone into hiding, they honestly do not know what to do,” said the source.

Efforts to get a comment from the Sibanda’s were fruitless as their provided mobile numbers were not going through while the police declined to comment on the matter.