Zomba Magistrate court has convicted 35 year-old Billy Banda to eight years imprisonment with hard labour for having anal sex with a 13 year-old boy. Eastern Region Police Public Relations Officer, Nicholas Gondwa said Banda was charged with sodomy contrary to the penal code. Prosecutor superintendent, Dickens Mwambazi, told the court on 8 July 2011, Banda from Tampira […]
President Bingu wa Mutharika has bowed down to pressure by ordering that Malawi Law Commission to review some of the repressive laws including a ban on homosexual acts, Justice Minister Ephraim Chiume has said. Chiume said provisions of the penal code concerning “indecent practices and unnatural acts” would be reviewed. “In view of the sentiments […]
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 […]
At long last the Commonwealth is being forced to face up to the appalling human rights record among some of its member states – particularly the criminalisation of homosexuality. The British Prime Minister, David Cameron has made it clear that Commonwealth member states refusing to decriminalise homosexuality risk losing British aid. The Prime Minister has […]
Britain has clarified that it is not putting gay-rights strings to its development aid to Malawi, saying they are looking at human rights in general and also disclosed they have increased support to the country. Head of the southern Africa section at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Aidan Liddle said London has not […]
Britain has been asked to rethink its plans to cut its budgetary support to Malawi and other despotic and homophobic regimes, according to a petition by African social justice activists comprising of 53 human rights NGOs. Malawi and other Commonwealth nations with that have laws punishing homosexuality or restricting the rights of gay peoplem, have […]
Malawi government and religious leaders says it was unfortunate for UK Prime Minister David Cameron to say that the country and other Commonwealth nations receiving British aid should respect gay rights. Cameron said after Commonwealth summit that his administration would use the budget support to ensure that human rights abuses against homosexuals come to an […]
Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe, head of the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), a grouping of protestant churches in the country, has said the West should not be allowed to use its financial power to force Malawi to accept homosexuality. In a media statement Bvumbwe co-signed with MCC secretary, Bishop Dr Osborne l Joda‐Mbewe, made available to Nyasa […]
A new law on child adoption in Malawi is proposing to ban gays and lesbians from adopting children. The law will also not allow individuals found to have unsound mind and former convicted criminals to adopt Malawian children. The proposals were unveiled by Malawi’s special Law Commission chairperson Judge Esmie Chombo in the capital Lilongwe […]
Civil rights activists who have been fighting for gay rights in Malawi are under pressure from their donors to explain how they used the funds that were given to them to fight for gay rights legislation. In an emailed correspondence dated 19th July 2011 posted on newly launched whistle blower website NyasaLeaks, addressed to John […]
The billboard has no militant language, graphic pictures or cleverly obscure message just a group of neatly dressed Malawian activists politely urging respect for sexual minorities. But the sign along a busy road in the small African nation is a historic step after last year’s explosive jailing and pardon of a couple who held the […]
By Green Muheya, Nyasa Times Civil society organisations in Malawi have attacked First Lady Callista Mutharika following her Tuesday comments that NGOs should “go to hell” for promoting homosexuality and disturbing peace in the country. The eight organisations – Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), T Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU), Catholic Commission for Justice […]