Cedep describes running mates stance on same-sex marriages ‘razzle-dazzle’
Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) has described running mates who participated in the Tuesday evening debate as “confused”, saying they must rethink their stands on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Cedep executive director, Gift Trapence, said on Wednesday in the aftermath of the debate that it was unfortuanate that Mohammed Sidik Mia (Malawi Congress Party-MCP), Frank Mwenifumbo (United Democratic Front (UDF) and Michael Usi (UTM Party) – who participated in the debate at the Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu – did not take the welfare and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Malawi at heart.
During the debate, while UTM’s Michael Usi was a bit softer and called for a “national referendum”.
Usi said: “If they say yes, then we will go that way. If not, then we won’t. So, for us, we will have a people referendum.”
UDF’s Mwenifumbo and MCP’s Mia outrightly ruled out the idea of accomodating the LGBTI.
“The issue of LGBTI is not in our culture. It is a foreign phenomenon, and we will never allow to be dictated by the West,” said Mwenifumbo.
And Sidik Mia reminded that homosexuality is illegal in Malawi punishable by a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, according to the Penal Code whose offences include “unnatural acts” and “buggery”.
Mia said: “I do not subscribe to that all. Those that will cross the floor will be arrested.”
But Trapence told Nyasa Times that the runningmates stances were “based on their little understanding of human rights.”
According to Trapence, the parties should go back to their drawing boards as the population of homosexuals in Malawi has now hit nearly 40 000.
“They need to understand the nature of issues they are tackling,” said Trapence.
Cedep has been putting LGBTI issues on the national agenda in Malawi and in 2014 received an award in Denmark for contributing to changing society’s perception on homosexuality amid socio-cultural and legal challenges.
Trapence urges Malawians to treat gays and lesbians as people like any other. He wants law enforcers to protect all Malawians regardless of their sexual orientation.
He says: “Like any citizen, they should be equal before the law. No one should be discriminated against before the law.”
In Malawi, homosexuality is outlawed and the first openly-gay couple of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza was in 2010 given the maximum sentence of 14 years each. They held a public traditional engagement in December 2009.
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These people have no space on planet earth, they belong to HELL where their father resides, you disgust me!
Trapence or whatever your name is, go to hell and kiss your master Satan, we cant entertain such rubbish in Malawi, get your fellow LGBTI demons and re locate, Malawi has no place for you silly demons, mavuto kuno ku Nyasalande ali thoooo ndiye tizilimbana nso ndi izi za umathanyula??? Demmett
So ma gay wo amapindula chani chomwe anthu amene ali si ma gay samapindula. As someone said there are so many serious issues this country needs to tackle e.g. disaster and corruption
We about 40,000 LGBTI against a population of 18 million a representation 0.2%. this is why Mia was saying this group is minority to warrant a referendum. it will be unnecessary cost to a country like Malawi.
This is not Human Rights. Mathanyula takana ku Malawi please go the west countries for the devilish acts.
Mia’s stance is ridiculously backward, and he cant be trusted to lead the national agenda. Surely this man wants to bring Sharia Law into the constitution? Those ridiculous laws about buggery and unnatural acts etc… were brought in by the colonial masters who have since left those ridiculous laws behind. The sooner this country starts having people with an open mind that look at all issues in totality, and can argue intellectually rather than emotionally the sooner we will progress in all fields as a nation. If a minority of consenting adults want to have sexual relationships with each other… Read more »
Iam failing to understand where malawi is heading to,had it been pipo do not miggrate malawians wouldn’t learn this for sure,Kod ine mtafusa nao kwa amene mukuwadziwa anthuwa,kod a Gifitiwo akazao nga amuna? Even I cant allow my children to practice this,I want to be agrandfather oneday,with grandchildren,to fetch water for me…
Awaso nawoso….zaziiiiiii….
These people has no place in this life and here after. LGBT go to hell you evil people.
Interesting how 0.3% can set the agenda for a country…….we have more serious issues to contend with than advance such rights….