- The Blantyre court today gave a young gay couple the maximum sentence of 14 years of imprisonment over "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts". The sentence may lead to cut in donor aid to Malawi.
Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga on Tuesday were convicted for "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts" after holding a traditional engagement ceremony in Malawi in December. The young couple in their twenties have been imprisoned ever since.
Today, the judge in Blantyre, Malawi's second city, handed out the maximum sentence for the offence. Sentencing the couple to 14 years in prison, Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa explained he wanted to protect the general public in Malawi "from people like you."
"We are sitting here to represent the Malawi society, which I do not believe is ready at this point in time to see its sons getting married to other sons or conducting engagement ceremonies," said the judge.
According to press reports from Blantyre, the defence lawyer of the gay couple has already announced that the harsh ruling would be appealed.
In Malawi, a country where the issue of homosexuality had never been discussed in public before the December arrest of the couple, the case has caused large public interest and discussions. The Blantyre courtroom was packed with spectators and crowds gathered outside the court.
Most Malawians express shock and outrage about the mere existence of homosexuality in their country, supporting the harsh sentence. But the sudden appearance of a public debate about homosexuality has also opened the eyes and minds of many liberal Malawians, holding the country should do away with its criminalisation of sexual minorities.
Civil society groups and many intellectuals in Malawi have pointed out the human rights aspect of sentencing a couple to a prison term over their mutual and consensual love. Centre for Development of People (CEDAP) and the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) are two of the main Malawian groups suddenly advocating for the human rights of sexual minorities in the country.
CEDEP this week strongly condemned the conviction, saying the ruling "undermines Malawi's commitment to the rule of law and jeopardises the human rights of all Malawians." Together with CHRR, CEDEP now is urging Malawian lawmakers to change the British colonial laws criminalising homosexuality.
Also some Malawian politicians are seeing that the harsh sentence is a step in the wrong direction for the impoverished Southern African nation. Malawi has seen massive international media coverage over the court case, in most cases very negative. Even reactions in South Africa are strongly negative, and there is a growing sense that Malawi is out of tune with its main international partners.
Malawi is one of the world's most aid dependent nations and donors have reacted strongly to the conviction. Main donor Britain expressed its "dismay" at the sentence. The US government called the case "a step backwards" for Malawi. Key Scandinavian donors, including Sweden and Norway, have put the rights of sexual minorities high on their agenda and have threatened to reduce aid levels to Malawi.
But while parts of Malawian society are starting to consider a softening of the country's laws criminalising homosexuality, President Bingu wa Mutharika is hardening his stance. The President last month denounced homosexuality as "un-Malawian," "evil" and "disgusting" and linked it to corruption, violence, theft and prostitution.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español