A Zimbabwean MP has warned that a number of “gay gangsters” have infiltrated the ruling political party.

Temba Mliswa, a Zanu PF MP for Hurungwe West, made the claim about a number of his leadership rivals under Robert Mugabe.

He told press that Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and a number of his colleagues were “gay gangsters”.

He said: “[Moyo] is directly linked to the CIA. You cannot be part of this organisation without initiation. We know about it and we talk about it every day.

“The role of the CIA is to have close relationships with the security chiefs in the country because that is where you get information.

“The American CIA is a bunch of gay gangsters and you cannot be part of them if you are not one. I have links that talk about Professor Moyo’s gay tendencies.”

He added that the CIA was aiming to de-stabilise the ruling party, saying: “The part is run by a constitutional leader but we are wondering what Professor Moyo is doing in the party when he lost an election. We ask ourselves whether the party has been high-jacked?”

Mr Moyo has since hit back at Mliswa’s “incoherent ranting”.

The country’s President Robert Mugabe recently said he dislikes taking international aid money from the West, because it comes with pressure to “embrace” homosexuality.

Mugabe has made several bizarre anti-gay rants in the past, claiming earlier this year he felt sorry for the Queen because of Britain’s “gay habits”.

He said: “What has happened to Britain? They have grown small in mind, small intellect. Ideology gone!

“You can’t see it in people now, with gay habits. Shame on them!

“I pity the one lady I admire, the Queen, that she is in these circumstances.

“They’ve gone to the dogs! No respect. Countries don’t respect them anymore.”