Malawi: Arrested gays plan separation

  1. Posted on Wednesday 30 December 2009 - 13:53
    madalitso
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    Madalitso Kateta, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    The two arrested gay men in Malawi have pleaded not guilty to charges of gross public indecency and have announced to separate with immediate effect. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were arraigned before a court in Malawi's biggest city Blantyre and hope to plead for bail on Monday.
    malawi map
    They made history over the weekend as the first gay couple to hold an open traditional engagement ceremony. They face a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

    Speaking from Blantyre police cell, the equally shaken two said they did not understand why the police was keeping them in custody. Chimbalanga said ‘she’ saw no reason for the police to pounce on homosexuals when heterosexuals wed openly.

    “We are being victimized for simply expressing what we feel, why are police officers victimizing us when heterosexuals wed publicly without being bothered, we have done nothing wrong our conscious is clean God is the best judge,” said Chimbalanga.

    According to views monitored on radio phone-in programmes, many Malawians want a speedy trial for the two for doing what has been described as indecent act.

    Meanwhile, the Malawi gay rights movement (Magrim) has blamed increased public outrage against the two on ignorance, saying when it comes to issues of homosexuality many Malawians are illiterates.

    Magrim publicist Wongani Phiri said the problem with many Malawians was that they failed to differentiate sodomy and homosexuality.

    “For example many Malawians don’t know the difference between sodomy and homosexuality attributing the sex acts that happens in prisons to homosexuality, however being gay is natural as opposed to the behaviour that happens in prisons,” he argued.

    Also, according to the BBC a gay rights organization, Centre for the Development of People’s executive director, Gift Trapence, said the laws used to arrest the couple are invalid because they are against the Bill of Rights enshrined in the 1995 constitution.

    The report said some voices in government have also started to call for more openness about homosexuality as the authorities try to tackle high rates of HIV/Aids.

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