Canaan Banana was the first President of Zimbabwe, serving from 1980 to 1987. He played a significant role in the country’s struggle for independence and was a key figure in the early years of Zimbabwe’s nationhood. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he was accused of sodomy and other sex crimes.

The Charges and Trial

Banana faced 11 charges of sodomy, attempted sodomy, and indecent assault, allegedly committed while he was president. The accusations claimed he misused his power to coerce men into accepting his sexual advances. Despite denying the allegations, Banana was found guilty in 1998 ¹.

The Sentence and Imprisonment

Banana was sentenced to 10 years in jail, with nine years suspended. He served six months in an open prison before being released in January 2001. Notably, he had fled to South Africa while on bail, reportedly fearing for his life, but returned to Zimbabwe after a meeting with Nelson Mandela, who convinced him to face the ruling ².

Aftermath

As a result of his conviction, Banana was also defrocked as a Methodist minister. His wife sought political asylum in Britain in October 2000. Banana passed away in 2003 due to cancer, with varying reports on his place of death ¹ ².