African gays issue ultimatum

  1. Posted on Wednesday 10 March 2010 - 15:21
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    Mozambican and Malawian gays ended private meetings Tuesday, with the gays issuing a strong-worded ultimatum to African Union Chairperson Bingu wa Mutharika for the unconditional release of Monjeza and Chimbalanga. Mutharika has come under a heavy spate of criticism for violating gay rights.
    black gays
    "Failing which, we will begin to lobby African countries to relinquish Mutharika of his African Union Chairmanship," reads part of the communiqué signed by Magrim spokesperson Wongani James Phiri.

    It was also countersigned by Magrim's Mozambican counterparts through Denis Mesquita, a representative of the Mozambican gays and lesbians.

    Malawi is currently dogging in the international limelight over the arrest of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, two Malawian gays arrested in December last year for staging the country's first ever gay engegement ceremony.

    They have since December 28, 2009 been held in custody, much to the chagrin of human rights organisations such as Human Rights Consultative Committee, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Malawi Gay Rights Movement (Magrim), Centre for the Development of People (Cedep), among others.

    The organisations accuse government of stifling minority rights, a fact visiting Norwegian Minister for Environment and International Development alluded to during his visit this week.

    The Minister has since called on Malawi to trade carefully on minority rights, making special emphasis on homosexuals.

    Among others, the gays also want Malawi government officials to release all people arrested in connection with the issue of Monjeza and Chimbalanga, apart from legalising homosexuality.

    "We want homosexuality legalised. In fact, 17 of Malawian Members of Parliament are gays, and this cannot be a problem at all. Why are these people being tough?" queried Phiri.

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