Clergy snubs campaign on abortion law reform

By Rose Zimba, Nyasa Times

December 15, 2011 · 49 Comments

Religious leaders continue reacting negatively towards the campaign that seeks to push government authorities to soften the abortion laws in Malawi.

Women rights activists are asking government to consider liberalizing abortion laws which are currently restricted to a pregnant mother whose life is in danger.

The campaign is premised on the basis that more women’s lives are lost due to complications from unsafe abortions that are carried out by inexperienced or untrained personnel.

Seodi: Legalise abortion

Statistics shows that over 17 percent of maternal deaths in the public hospitals are because of unsafe abortion.

One of the organizations championing the campaign on abortion laws reform is the Malawi chapter of Women and Law in Southern Africa Research Trust (WILSA).

Its National Coordinator Seode White says it’s high time Malawi should consider legalizing abortion because a lot of women’s lives are being lost due to unsafe abortion.

White says the deaths are largely caused by the harmful procedure which these women under go when carrying an abortion.

“Some of the methods used are drinking surf, using wires, and poisonous herbs. So what we are asking is that our laws should be liberalized so that those who want to carry out abortion should be accessing assistance from trained medical personnel in the hospitals instead of going for unsafe abortion,” says White .

“Here we are talking about cases where a woman has become pregnant because of rape, incest or even when contraception fails”.

However, religious leaders are not amused with the campaign. Sheikh Dinala Chabulika national Coordinator of the Islamic Information Bureau said in an interview monitored on Radio Islam that abortion is a sin.

He said in Islam abortion is only allowed when there is proof from a Muslim medical doctor that the life of a mother will be in danger during delivery.

“Here Islam teaches that we should save one life. So in this case we can save the existing life that is, that of the mother”

Chabulika said in totality abortion is prohibited in Islam “because it is killing.”

On the pregnancy as a result of incest and rape, the learned sheikh said the best way to deal with rape incident is to rush to the hospital soon after the incident where they “clean” the woman.

Abortion is also an offence in Malawi according to the country’s penal code. Section 149 of the country’s penal code penalizes any person who administers abortion to 14 years imprisonment, while any woman who solicits an abortion is liable to seven years in prison.

Tags: abortion, Seodi White, Sheik Dinala Chabulika

49 Responses to “Clergy snubs campaign on abortion law reform”

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concerned Says:

February 7th, 2012 at 12:11 am

NO KILLING OF LIVE UNBORN BABIES IN MALAWI.Amene akukhala ndi ma complications wo they hav chosen coz dy do it out of sin.r u sure madam,u mean malawi shd regalize murder,tis total devilish.TAKANA IFE.And by d way,dont compare malawi wit otha nations,we r a unique,special nation.malawi pray hard against dis ok.our God is listening!

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Billy kangawa Says: January 5th, 2012 at 4:13 pm

Seodi does not sound malawian

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FUNGUS Says:

December 29th, 2011 at 8:23 am

By the way why are you still using the name “White” when you husband divorced you several rainy seasons ago? Madam, you are very satanic. If this law were in place then, you could have not been here today. We know you were born out of wedlock ( out of prostitution). Your father is a Mr. Munthali and your mum is a NaBaisukulu. Stop this nonsense.

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Masozi Mwenifumbo Says:

December 28th, 2011 at 5:36 pm

CORRECTION OF TYPO-ERROR:

THE PHRASE AFTER MATT. 5: 21-22 SHOULD READ, “EVEN THOUGH THE LAW OF MOSES (BEFORE CHRIST JESUS CAME) TOLERATED PEOPLE TO KILL CERTAIN TYPES OF SINNERS LIKE MUREDERERS/ADULTERERS ETC DUE TO THE HARDNESS OF PEOPLE’S HEART.” BUT HE NOW COMMANDS TOTAL REMOVAL OF THESE STONY HEARTS OF UNBELIEF AND RECEIVING A NEW HEART OF FLESH AND A NEW SPIRIT FROM THE ONLY ONE GIVER (JESUS CHRIST-FOR IT IS ONLY HIM WHO REMAINS A WORTHY SACRIFICIAL LAMB EVEN IN HEAVEN TODAY, WORTHY OF ALL WORSHIP BY ALL CREATION -REV 4-REV 5); THROUGH ONLY ONE WAY, THAT IS, REPENTANCE AND NEW BIRTH THROUGH ONLY ONE MAN AND NAME, “JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD SAVIOUR OF THE WHOLE CREATION”!!!!!!!!!

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Masozi Mwenifumbo Says:

December 28th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

Madam Seodi White, Malawians, Africans, UNO, & all you nations of the world!!! Hear This!!!

THERE IS ONLY ONE WHO CREATES LIFE, THAT IS YHWH GOD ALMIGHTY, THE CREATOR OF HEAVENS AND EARTH!!! DEMOCRACY OR HUMAN RIGHTS OR EDUCATION (IN WHATEVER FORM) DID NOT CREATE US!!! AND NOW HE SAYS, “WOE TO WHOSOEVER DOES CONTRARY TO THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THE ONLY SAVIOUR OF THE WHOLE WORLD SO CLEARLY PROVED BEFORE EVERYBODY!!!” For Jesus Christ died already on behalf of everybody (INCLUDING UNBORN BABIES), totally removing every right whatsoever TO KILL/HATE-MATT 5:21-22, even the Law Of Moses tolerated KILLING ISRAEL BEFORE CHRIST CAME DUE to the hardness of man’s heart!!!

REPENT THEREFORE, OH MEN, BELIEVING IN THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WHO COMMANDS US TO LOVE ALL (INCLUDING OUR ENEMIES AND UNBORN BABIES WHO HE CARES SO MUCH FOR, AND DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO CURSE IN WHATSOEVER MANNER!!!!!!!

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kazingatchire Says:

December 23rd, 2011 at 1:04 pm

Wamkulu mutu says
Chemwali Seodi mwatani kodi kapena inu ndi wachigololo cha akazi okhaokha eti? Iwe amako akadataya pathupi paiweyo nkhope ngati chitumbuwayo tikanayiwaona ife kapena iweyo ukadapeza mwayi woyankhula za kumatako zakozo? Abortion abortion my foot. Amene akufuna kumapha nayenso aphedwe basi.Chimene uyenera kudziwa iwe Seodi White kay ndiwe Seodi White kay ndiwe Seodi Black who cares, ndichoti mkazi akangolumpha mwezi wake osasamba ameneyo ali ndi mwana wamoyo and kuchotsa pathupipo ndi tchimo basi.Kawerengenso Bilogy ya Reproduction kapena umathawa Biology mbuli iwe. Iweyo ngati ukufuna uyambe wakwatitsa kwa anyamatawa kapena bwera tichite nawe ndiye (ti)akakupatsa mimba uchotse tiwonere iweyo. Kumaso ngati chipembere eti, akazi ena kunyansa maliro ndiye umati akusilira ndani mfiti iwe yachabechabe. Iwe wofunika kukowera basi ufuna kuwononga nzeru zaanthu abwinobwino eti mthakati iwe

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Playmaker Says:

December 18th, 2011 at 7:41 am

Abortion is sounding better Madam white. Should read “let government legalise the killing of unborn babies when the mother decides so”. This is devilish…and as any other sin let those doing this do it in secret. Madam white we have real issues to worry about in Malawi at moment… Please join us in prayers so that God can forgive us and not to punish us further. If you are a christian one of the commandment reads thy shall not kill.This is very clear and there is no need for further explanations..

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Mr perfect Says:

December 17th, 2011 at 11:32 am