African gays meet ultimatum


  1. The meeting between Mozambican and Malawian gays ended on Tuesday this week, with the gays assuing a strong-worded ultumatum to African Union Chairperson Bingu wa Mutharika.
    Mutharika is also Malawi's president, who has come under a heavy spate of criticism for violating gay rights.
    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 stiffling 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.
    In a Communique released Tuesday, after private meetings spanning over a week in Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre, gays and lesbians from Malawi issued an ultimatum callling for the unconditional release of Monjeza and Chimbalanga.
    "Failing which, we will begin to lobby African countries to relinguish Mutharika of his African Union Chairmanship," reads part of the communique 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.
    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.
    Meanwhile, Malawian gays and lesbians have launched a website which will be unveiled this week Saturday. For more information about Malawian gays and lesbians, people are being advised to channel all information to: info@magrim.org.
    "We will respond to every query or request for information. This is a revolution for Malawian gays," said Phiri.



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