Clergy protests same-sex unions

The clergy yesterday led their flock to the streets across the country to protest against any attempts to legalise same-sex relationships, saying any change to the laws should be through a referendum.

In peaceful marches in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu as well as Mangochi Town, the protesters specifically petitioned President Lazarus Chakwera and Parliament not to entertain efforts at changing the law to de-criminalise same sex unions.

But minority rights activists have said while every person or group has a right to demonstrate, it was unfortunate that the clergy and their followers were making “unfounded” claims that some of the activists received money from foreign donors to promote same-sex relations.

In Lilongwe, the march started from Mtima Woyera Parish through Mchesi and Kamuzu Central Hospital to Parliament Building at City Centre where the group handed over their petition to Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament chairperson Yusuf Nthenda.

Speaking later, Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe Archbishop George Tambala said the clergy is appealing to members of Parliament (MPs) through the petition to make laws that encourage marriage while the message to the President is that he should not bow down to external pressure to legalise same-sex marriages.

He said they are also appealing to civil society organisations and Malawians not to allow such marriages in the country.

Tambala, who is also Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) chairperson, said: “We cautioned about the risks that we see coming our way if we allow to change the definition of marriage. We are concerned that if we change, we’re going to destroy the family. We also fear that this will affect the education of our children who are being taught things that we feel are not right.

“The message to our donor partners is that in as much as they help us, Malawi is a sovereign country which must be given respect and should not be given a condition that to receive aid we should change the definition of marriage.”

On where the fears are coming from, he said they have noted a global lobby to allow same sex marriages.

Nthenda, who is Mulanje West MP, assured that they will follow the right channels whenever petitions of this nature are taken to Parliament.

But he called on the public to live in harmony with people that engage in same-sex relationships in the country.

Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu, who was present at the handover of the petition, commended the marchers for expressing themselves in a peaceful manner.

Commenting on the demonstrations, Alliance for Democracy president Enock Chihana, who joined the marchers, highlighted the need for Malawi to uphold its cultural values.

The petition was read by Sheikh Cassim Chikwakwa of Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) before Tambala presented it.

In Mzuzu, the faith leaders vowed to continue carrying out demonstrations against legalisation of same-sex marriages in the country.

The demonstration attracted a huge turnout whose majority were youths. There was also heavy police presence during the demonstrations that started from Katoto Secondary School football ground to Mzuzu main streets en route to Mzimba North District Office.

One placard read ‘We say no to same sex marriages-God hates sodomy’.

Speaking after delivering the petition, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia general secretary the Reverend William Tembo said they will continue raising awareness to people and unite them in fighting against same-sex marriage unions.

He said: “We call upon relevant parliamentary committees such as Health, Gender and Legal Affairs to review available policies and legislations with the view of protecting the family and ensure that we safeguard our young people from extreme secularisation campaigns.”

MAM representative Sheikh Yusuf Gama said the country should expect a harsh punishment from God if leaders will entertain same-sex marriages.

M’Mbelwa District Council administration officer Mercy Ghambi, who received the petition in Mzuzu, commended the concerned demonstrators for carrying out peaceful demonstrations.

In Blantyre, the clerics, who led Christians, Muslims and people of goodwill in the march, said if the referendum could not be the way, then the matter should be referred to Parliament for debate.

The leaders in their address and the hoisted placards did not make any reference to a matter in the High Court of Malawi sitting as a Constitutional Court where two applicants are challenging laws that criminalise same-sex unions and want them declared unconstitutional.

Representatives of ECM, Malawi Council of Churches, Evangelical Association of Malawi and MAM also joined the case as friends of the court.

Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre Archbishop Thomas Msusa, who was among the clergy leaders that participated, told journalists that he was impressed that christians, muslims and people of goodwill joined the demonstrations.

“We will keep on engaging government not to decriminalise same-sex unions. We have sent a strong and clear message. If our calls cannot be heard, this is not the last time you see us on the streets,” he said.

At the Blantyre district commissioner’s (DC) office, the petition was read by the Reverend Father Peter Kamtembe, diocesan pastoral secretary. He said their message contained the faith organisations’ beliefs, observations, worries and an appeal to the three arms of the government.

Security was tight and businesses, including shops and commercial banks, remained open as the demonstrators marched through Blantyre central business district to the DC’s office.

Messages on the placards included ‘Sex is between males and females’, ‘I am single and ready to get married to a man’, ‘Ndiwe wakuti dad? Wokhumbila mamuna mzako [What type of man are you who has feelings for your fellow man?]’.

In Zomba, the demonstrations started from Zomba Stadium through St. Charles Lwanga Parish to Zomba District Council Offices.

The protesters presented their petition to Zomba DC Reinghard Chavula.

Charismatic Renewal Ministries Bishop John Chilimtsidya, in his speech after delivering the petition, said that God uses the church as an instrument of salvation to plant peace and destroy iniquities.

Notable faces at the march included former Public Affairs Committee publicity secretary Father Peter Mulomole, University of Malawi law professor Garton Kamchedzera and Zomba Diocese vicar general Father Vincent Chilolo.

National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said they received no report of violence during the demonstrations across the nation.

Meanwhile, rights activist Michael Kaiyatsa said in an interview that while religious groups have the right to demonstrate, they were worried about the health of those practising same-sex relationships, especially with regards to HIV and Aids.

Centre for the Development of People executive director Gift Trapence said everyone has the right to demonstrate and everyone is entitled to their opinions.

However, he said: “What is wrong is to accuse other countries on the support of human rights that everyone being human is entitled. Religious groups should not interfere with court proceedings.”

Reporting by FRANK NAMANGALE, BRENDA BULIYANI, JACOB NANKHONYA, LUMBANI KAZEZE, PLEDGE JALI, EUNEAS ZINYENGO and HOLYCE KHOLOWA