HARARE – A gay teacher at a boys-only school in Harare has resigned from his job after receiving death threats.

Neal Hovelmeier, the deputy headmaster of the private St John’s College in Borrowdale who taught the 6th Form class, said he had “come under vitriolic attack from various quarters” after he revealed his sexual orientation at a special school assembly.

The final straw came last Friday when parents demanded his removal in angry scenes at the school.

Hovelmeier, in a September 28 statement announcing his resignation, said he accepted that his announcement “has caused grievous and deep concern to a section of our community”.

“I have to fully accept that I had no idea of the force of anger and resentment that such a declaration would make, but I would like it known that I’m a man who has the utmost respect for people who hold strong views along the lines of custom, tradition, religion and other values,” he said.

Saying that he regretted his actions during the meeting with parents last Saturday, he also called for “forgiveness and understanding.”

“I have been in receipt of death threats as well as threats of physical danger to myself and my pets. It has also been made clear to me that certain stakeholders are not prepared under any circumstances to have me remain in my position at St John’s, to the extent that they have launched a legal challenge, made ultimatums and vowed under any and all circumstances to see me dismissed, even by means of intimidation and the manufacture of fabricated evidence against me to see me face a wrath of spurious allegations,” Hovelmeier said.

He said he would not submit himself to what he called a “sham trial or investigation.”

“It is for this reason, and with a heavy heart, that I have come to realise that my current position as deputy headmaster is now untenable and I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect,” he said.

Hovelmeier, it has emerged, was forced to “come out” after the school got a newspaper enquiry from a newspaper, whose content has not been disclosed.

While others praised his bravery, majority opinion on the internet was highly critical of his decision to announce his sexual orientation at a school assembly. In a Twitter poll run by ZimLive, 52 percent of the 6,500 respondents said they would not allow him to teach their sons.

Zimbabwe, steeped in Christian religion and conservative views, has not yet embraced homosexuality, which remains illegal under the country’s laws.