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Malawi must respect same-sex rights or lose US aid

By Thom Chiumia, Nyasa Times

December 7, 2011   ·   169 Comments

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Malawi risks losing the United States aid money if it will continue to be homophobic nation following an announcement by the Obama administration that it will consider how countries treat gays, lesbians when making foreign aid decisions.

The White House has issued a presidential memorandum announcing the policy. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton followed up the announcement at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama directed US agencies, including the State Department and the US Agency for International Development, to use foreign aid to assist gays and lesbians who are facing human rights violations. And he ordered US agencies to protect vulnerable gay and lesbian refugees and asylum seekers.

Gay rights

“The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States’ commitment to promoting human rights,” Obama said in a statement.

Secretary of State Clinton told an audience of diplomats in Geneva that “gay rights are human rights”.

She said, according to news agencies: “Gay people are born into, and belong to, every society in the world.”

“They are all ages, all races, all faiths. They are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes.

“Being gay is not a Western invention,” she said. “It is a human reality.”

Malawi in denial

UK government had also announced it will redirect aid money away from government who persecute homosexuals.

The UK policy was roundly denounce by Malawi and other Commonwealth countries.

President Bingu wa Mutharika defends Malawi laws for the criminalisation of sexual orientation when he adopted Zimbabwean President  Robert Mugabe’s lingo, describing gays as worse than dogs.

He has the backing of Malawi Counci of Churches , a grouping of 24 protestant churches, as it argues that while Malawi needed aid, it was against donor countries calling for the legalisation of same sex marriages as the practice was a contradiction with the teachings of God, Malawi’s rich traditions and culture and a threat to the family unit.

In 2009, Malawi police arrested a couple, Steven Monjeza, 27, and 21-year-old Tiwonge Chimbalanga, after they got engaged in a traditional ceremony two years ago. They were tried and found guilty in a trial viewed as a test case for gay rights in the southern African country.

Tags: Barak Obama, Bingu wa Mutharika, donors, homosexuality, human rights, US

169 Responses to “Malawi must respect same-sex rights or lose US aid”

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1. 169

   kalala joe Says:

   January 7th, 2012 at 3:59 pm

   
   

   Our God and our Father in heaven forgive us of our sins,especially in this contex, for those that exercise gay, homosexal and lesbianism need not throw stones to the almighty God who indeed created them, plz,plz,plz, my dear brothers and sisters that are caught up in those acts,pray to the almighty God in the mighty name of his son Jesus Christ in truth and with faith to indeed help you, after all Jesus christ came for the siners not the righteous,hence you and me he died for, so as to believe to have enternal life John 3:15,hence may God the almighty, continue to guide you and move your life to higher heights without fail in Jesus christ name pray amen, Like 0 Reply

2. 168

   tlb Says:

   December 19th, 2011 at 8:51 pm

   
   

   These are the end of days indeed, i just pray that Zambia does not conform to those who have lost their forefather’s principles and the favour of God…we must stand our ground if we do not want the wrath of God upon us…we can do it on our own we don’t need aid from those taht have lost it….. Like 0 Reply

3. 167

   Katepetsa Mtolo Mtolo Says:

   December 15th, 2011 at 3:14 pm

   
   

   Same sex relationship are a vice from the West and they are trying to impose it on peoples of other regions on the guise that it is a ‘human right’. What human right? Fortunately, even in the West, not everyone agrees with this rubbish claim that it is a ‘human right’. Former Italian Prime Minister Slivio Belusconi is one such great Westener who sees same sex relationship as an evil or a vice. The West try to use whatever means to impose this vice on others and aid is the favourite weapon to use on the economically weak. Let us all Africans reject this Western vice as brave Nigeria has done by slapping the proponents of this evil in the face! Bravo Nigeria!!!! Like 0 Reply

4. 166

   Ghandi Says:

   December 15th, 2011 at 5:38 am

   
   

   Hey GQM, It does appear to me from ur write up that it is not as though you dont believe in God, u actually do believe He exist. The issue is that you are angry with Him for appearing to have limited your “freedom”. Let me tell you a story. There was a man who always was quick to reprimand his child when the child went wrong, “Hey junior, stop that!!!, He would scream. Junior over the years had gotten used to that voice when ever he crossed boundaries and would respond quickly to the command. A day came when the man and his son went out for a walk, he allowed Junior to go a pace ahead of him, wanting him to have like u said his “freedom”. Unbeknown to him, Junior had wandered off so far and there was a wreckless driver coming on the other side and junior was right on his way. What saved junior’s life that day was when he heard that familiar sound of his Father, “Hey Junior stop …!!!” Junior did not even think about it he immediately stopped on his track. That was how Junior was rescued from looming danger. But again another story of a mother who thought like you. She gave her son all the freedom that he would need. Never repremanding the child. The same scenerio played out for her and her son like the story i just shared, your guess is as good as mine. He was killed!!! The son never was used to a reprimand or caution. When she shouted to the son, “stop!” He did not respond, he had never heard that sound before. “Freedom” led to the son’s death. Freedom, i do beleive it is a good word. Ask the South Africans they will tell you. But when your freedom crosses the line of God, nature, and man’s conscience that is where the problem lie. Imagine a lady who has 3 children to feed, but has no money she then goes into prostitution to do so. That is freedom isnt it, but does that make it right? Or the loving father who watches his children go hungry everyday, going to bed without food. He comes to your house and robs you of your money at gun point, that is freedom but does that make it right? Or your wife or husband, (i dont know your gender) feels you are not satisfying enough goes out with other suitors, that is freedom, but does that make it right? Where do we draw the line. The threat of the western world not to aid needful countries is an abuse of power. I see a day coming my friend when countries like Malawi, Zambia and other so called 3rd world countries will be so empowered and would also give terms to UK and America for dealings. In anycase their actions is tantermaount to an attempt to try and enslave these countries. Every nation have a right to govern themselves the way they want to, but they must be ready to face the consequence of their actions. My freind whether u want to believe it or not GOD IS LOVE! And He loves u dearly. Please dont look for nails and wood to crucify Him again, He has done that already He is waiting for you to accept that. My friend take it from me, He loved u enough to take your place on the cross- Enjoy grace and mercy!!! Like 1 Reply

5. 165

   GQM Says:

   December 8th, 2011 at 8:47 pm

   
   

   What the hell is wrong with this continent? Homosexuality is not a choice. What will a person gain by choosing to be gay? Why would anyone choose to be gay in place where everybody will hate him/her for making that choice? It’s all fucking because of religion. The sooner everyone realises that there is no bearded guy in the sky (who some people call god) the sooner everyone will be treated equally. What right does anyone have to affect someone’s life who’s life don’t affect theirs? The bible is bollocks, stop following ancient superstition. There is no god. Give people their rights. Even if you do believe that its against god, let god judge them. What right do you have to judge them? By allowing them their rights, how will that affect your life? Tell your jesus to come down here, I’m waiting for him with some nails, 2 pieces of wood and a hammer. Let people live their lives in freedom. Luke 12:47-48 Leviticus 25:44-46 Exodus 21:7-11 Exodus 21:20-21 Ephesians 6:5 Timothy 6:1-2. Verses in the bible that condone slavery. We are descendants of people who were enslaved by the bible. Why do so many of us black people still believe in this shit. Its not real, god is not real. If you want to live by the bible then all us black people would still be slaves. Why the fuck would you want to use this to discriminate against other people. Let everyone have their freedom. Respect every human being. LET PEOPLE HAVE THEIR RIGHTS If god loves you, why the hell has enslaved our continent with poverty, hunger and diseases? It wasn’t until a few centuries ago that christianity came to our land. If god is so powerful why didn’t we know about him before? Like 2 Reply

6. 164

   Charles Says:

   December 8th, 2011 at 8:19 pm

   
   

   Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see. Homosexuality, lesianism, bisexualism, whatever good name they are called with, they are all sodomites, and it is a sign of destruction of the world by fire. God was patient with Sodom until a certain time, until the cup of their iniquity became full and the Bible said, ‘then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimestone and fire from the Lord out of heaven’. God is about ready to destroy this present world. Revelation chapters 8, 9, 11, 16 are all prophecies of what is coming now soon. America is under the judgments of God for rejecting God’s mighty servant William Marrion Branham, who was fulfilling Malachi 4:5-6, and because of rejecting the word of God, “therefore God gave them up to their own vile affections, for even their women did change their natural use into that which is against nature, and likewise also men, leaving the natural use of a woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” That is what America has done, that’s why they are promoting sodomy, that is why they are a home all unclean things, holywood, pornography, and all manner of evil and iniquity. Judgment is upon you America and all you its supporters. Worse than dogs you are, stinking pigs and ruthless hypocrites, unregenerated sick dogs, God will judge you! If not then God will be unfair, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with all their inhabitants, babies, pregnant women, for him to be just He’ll ve to raise them up and apologize to them, but He’s a just God and will certainly destroy this world, it’s better to eat zigumu and drink drainage water and serve the Lord with it. Away with these stupid fools, let them keep their aid, we don’t need it, remember the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Luke 16. Poorly-rated. Like 0 Reply

7. 163

   Tiko Says:

   December 8th, 2011 at 6:58 pm

   
   

   Not believing in existence of Jehova is worst, for u can not even know that what is happening now was already foretold by Him let alone what follows after. For no word that he shall pass. Fellow Malawians, our main need is salvation. Like 1 Reply

8. 162

   vinito Says:

   December 8th, 2011 at 6:52 pm

   
   

   Hie my Friend….. Ofcourse you could say all sorts of things to make yourself not believing in the Lord, but by asking that question about the existence of God this means there is God in heaven who sees everything. God ha done alot in your life only that may be you do not know who God is and what He does in our lives.These are some of attributes of God of the living creator 1. He has no background no-one can explain when God came into existence, has no beggining. 2. He created everything perfect and it was good, its only through the angel Lucifer who was also a perfect created being that evil fell on him and started apostacising the Heavenly kingdom. Revelation chapter 12 talks about the wars which broke forth in heaven Lucifer and MICHAEL(Jesus), atlast Lucifer lost the battle and was casted down to the earth with the third of heavenly angellic host. Today these angels are the evil spirits attacking people with all sorts of maladies, diseases, injustices etc.God cares for his people these problems can not end today but time is coming when He is going to destroy the Devil and all his ministers including his angels which are evil spirits. Like 1 Reply

9. 161

   vinito Says:

   December 8th, 2011 at 6:35 pm

   
   

   This is a true sign that the world is at its fate of destruction, It was the same practice which made the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the world has started sodomised itself soone or later these mapractices reaches heaven, God can never or ever be mocked,He is long suffering but with these indicency His anger will be kindled, time to wake up Please take a look at Genesis chapter 19. Like 1 Reply

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