Homosexuality still illegal in Malawi – Govt

The government of Malawi on Tuesday downplayed concerns raised by the leadership of the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) that the country has secretly embraced homosexuality.

The DPP concerns were based on a congratulatory announcement made in the United States on President Joyce Banda’s stance towards embracing HIV positive people and minority groups which include homosexuals.

In a statement, DPP’s secretary general, Wakuda Kamanga said the government should come out in the open and declare its position on the issue.

Kamanga demands that the People’s Party government should not sacrifice Malawians for the love of donor funds but instead engage in an open dialogue with development partners that will preserve and protect the interests of the citizens.

Information and civic education minister Moses Kunkuyu told the media that it was too early for the DDP to claim that the country has accepted same sex marriages when the issue has not been tabled and scrutinized in parliament.

Said Kunkuyu: “the practice still remains illegal in the country and the government’s position will be known once parliament deliberates the issue.”

President Banda announced that her government will repeal some of the bad laws including the one which criminalizes minority rights, a development which sparked widespread debate amongst the public and human rights defenders.