Norway presses Malawi on gay rights
One of Malawi’s major bilateral donors, Norway has pressed the country for more tolerance to homosexuality other than persecuting gays and lesbians.
Norwegian Minister of International Development, Erik Solhem, on an official visit to Malawi made the remarks when he met Malawi Foreign Affairs Professor Etta Banda and Finance minister Ken Kandodo.
“My concern …(is) that the continued remand of the gay couple will negatively impact on the good perceptions that people have about Malawi internationally.
“Malawi has been on the limelight internationally for achieving food security over the years and because of other good economic programs but if the gay issue is not handled well it can negatively impact on this,”. Solhem said.
The Norwegian minister said Malawi risks denting her ‘good international record built over the years’ if the country continues holding in prison gay couple, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza who were arrested on December 28 last year, two days after staging the nation’s first public same-sex wedding.
Solhem said Malawi needs to be flexible on the matter and find “a lasting solution” on homosexuality in the country.
Malawi Gay Rights Movement (Magrim) spokesman James Wongani Phiri said the Norwegian minister’s call is “ a welcome boost in the campaign for gay rights in Malawi.”
The gay spokesman also said they were “inspired” by the visit of the Mozambican gays and lesbians have been in Malawi for a week and will go back home Tuesday.
“In fact, we have received a gays and lesbians’ delegation of 17 people, 14 males and three women, and are happy with their gesture of goodwill. It is high time African gays united against repressive laws,” said Phiri.
Phiri said the Mozambicans and their Malawian counterparts have been holding closed door meetings to “strategies” how to campaign for unconditional release of the gay couple and for the country to open up debate on homosexuality.
The development comes after thousands of people took part in a raucous gay pride march Saturday in Cape Town, South Africa denouncing the arrest of Malawi’s gay couple.
The marchers held up banners saying “Your hate won’t make me straight,” “I was born gay,” “Jesus says ‘love your neighbour’,” and “Hate is unAfrican.”
But Malawi authorities have maintained that homosexuality remains illegal and anyone promoting it will be prosecuted. Police were hunting down key figures in the country’s gay community.
“We are targeting some prominent personalities and our suspects include legislators, priests, academics and other professionals,” police spokesman Davie Chingwalu said.
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