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Harare, Zimbabwe-- The former president of Zimbabwe, Canaan Banana (63), who sneaked out of the country on the eve of his conviction for sodomy, has unexpectedly returned to Harare. He is now under house arrest in No. 6 Epping Road, in Mount Pleasant, one of Harare's elite suburbs, awaiting sentencing which was postponed till January 18, 1999.

Banana, Zimbabwe's first president after former Rhodesia seized independence in April 1980, remained in office for seven years. He escaped the country just days before Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku convicted him, in absentia, of 11 charges of sodomy, attempted sodomy, and indecent assault.

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The Methodist minister and father of four grown-up children was found guilty, among other charges, of two counts of sodomy-- one involving his former security aide and soccer player, Jefta Dube, and a job-seeker, Ernest Ngwenya.

The scandal involving the former president erupted in February 1997, during the trial of his former aide, Jefta Dube.

Dube, a policeman, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for the 1995 murder of a fellow police officer who had tauntingly called him "Banana's wife." Canaan Banana, President of Republic at the time, was a well-known soccer fan and active sports official.

As the story goes, he noticed Dube, whose father was a poor gardener with many children, on the soccer field, playing for the Black Mambas, Harare's police team, back in November 1983. Banana sent his chauffeur to call the young and handsome Dube, who was 23 at the time, to come and visit him at the State House the following day.

Dube was offered the job of President's aide-de-camp, a good salary with the promise of promotion and a secure place on the soccer team. However, just days after accepting the lucrative job at the State House, he received an unexpected call to have dinner with the President and his family.

Dube felt "greatly honored" to sit at the same table with President Banana, his wife Janet, and their children. He even thought that it was "part of my familiarization with my workplace." But, this was just foreplay for Banana who consequently took Dube into the presidential office for a drink, a cup of coffee, and a friendly chat. They played cards, listened to some music and had a few drinks. The President, according to Dube, then told him that he should learn how to dance because he might be required to do so on certain state occasions, and Banana expressed readiness to teach him.

Banana got excited very soon after showing Dube the first dance steps, the court was told during the proceedings. "He was holding me tightly... squeezing my waist... and suddenly I realized that his penis was erect... ," said Dube from the witness box. Dube was "shocked" when the President kissed him and inserted his tongue in his mouth, but felt somewhat relieved when Banana excused himself. On his way out of the office, the President patted Dube's bottom, telling him, "This is the food of the elders."

In June 1984, just six months after he was hired, Dube reports he was ordered to come to Banana's office. He had a few soft drinks, but soon he felt very sleepy. He told the court that his drink was probably drugged. Banana kissed and fondled him and "I couldn't react... I was just looking helplessly at him." The young policeman told the court that the last thing he remembered, before losing consciousness, was that the President was taking off his trousers.

When Dube awoke, according to The Independent, a local weekly, he discovered that he was lying naked on the carpet and that there was "slippery stuff" between his buttocks. He remembered the President standing over him, telling him, "We have helped ourselves."

During the trial it was disclosed that Dube informed several policemen and high-ranking military officials that he was raped in the presidential office. Not all of them were surprised or shocked because, according to well-informed sources, it seems that the intelligence services had known about President Banana's "strange behavior" for quite some time.

While waiting for help from any side, Dube says he tried to avoid President Banana, looking for any excuse not to report to his office alone. "I would agree, but I wouldn't go," said Dube in court. "By not going, I thought he would realize I was not interested."

However, the President wasn't easily deterred, and it was around Christmas 1984, when Banana finally succeeded in catching up to Dube.

Dube, who claims he was under strict orders not to leave the presidential compound, and to be available at all times, was invited to "play cards" with Banana. Knowing what to expect, Dube declined the offer saying that he had a terrible headache. It didn't help because the next day Banana insisted that Dube report to his office in the evening.

"I went back to the State House to resume my duties. The advances continued and they were successful," acknowledged Dube in court.

He disclosed that, "I actually succumbed to his demands, on numerous occasions. Mostly when I was on weekend duty, when I was alone in his office." He told the court that he engaged in anal sex, oral sex, kissing, and dancing.

He claimed that Banana raped him for three years which had a terrible effect on him, both mentally and physically. Dube started to drink and to take sedatives. He claimed that he was practically incapable of making love to his wife, who he married in 1986.

Several former students of the University of Zimbabwe, soccer players, policemen and soldiers also claimed that they were sexually molested by Banana. According to witnesses, Banana always used the same scenario: cards, kissing, and "dance lessons."

Banana's return to Harare "to face justice," as the local media put it, makes many political observers in Zimbabwe's capital believe that he is expecting to be pardoned by his successor, President Mugabe (74), a well-known critic of homosexuals, who has been quoted as saying that they are "lower than dogs and pigs."

It was noted that the government-controlled daily, The Herald, urged reporters to stop publicizing the case. The same paper reminded its readers of Comrade Banana's accomplishments in the years of the Independence struggles. **