Malawi President to speak on same sex marriages in UK
There is an air of high euphoria and mixed expectation in Britain as President Joyce Banda is to speak on same sex marriages and the Malawi situation. The British government, however, said last week it will not attach same sex marriages to the aid that it will fast-track to the impoverished nation of about 16 million people.
Arriving in London Monday, Banda will among many tasks unravel Malawi’s position on same sex marriages, bringing fears amongst religious and conservative Malawi quarters that the former colony might decide to tighten its grip on the promised aid if she faithfully expressed the true reflection on the ground.
Religious and traditional leaders in Malawi voiced out against gays and lesbians, describing the act as abnormal and uncalled for any human beings.
Banda, however, told the nation last week that it should freely discuss and debate the matter without looking at “Who Joyce Banda is and what she thinks”.
She also encouraged parliamentarians to truly represent their constituents when dealing with this matter and other important ones in the current Budget seating, which is revisiting most of the laws dubbed ‘bad’ by the current regime following peoples expressions as also contained in the post-19th/20th July 2011 mass demonstrations missive put together by civil society organisations against the late Bingu wa Mutharika’s unpopular regime.
“The people of Malawi themselves will decide what they want about the controversial issue,” she said in a live broadcast.
President Banda will be telling the media that the final outcome on the debate rests with members of Parliament who will discuss the matter and decide the way forward. She reiterated Members represent their constituents and it is therefore expected that what they decide represents the views of the Malawian people.
During the press briefing that has attracted major international news outlets, President Banda is also expected to give her views on the presidential jet.
She is on record as saying it is an expense that she can live without, and has additionally proposed the sale of ministerial Mercedes Benz fleet as part of her administration’s moves to recover the fallen economy
Her position remains that a cabinet committee she has constituted will decide what is best for the people of Malawi. The committee has been mandated to find the best viable option and may recommend to sell or lease the jet.
Mutharika purchased the high class jet amid protests from economic commentators and the donor community, when Malawi started to slide down the economic rail following careless fiscal policies by the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
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