Pastor coalition wants homosexuals re-arrested

Young Pastors Coalition of Malawi (YPCM) has asked government to re-arrest alleged homosexuals who were recently freed.

The pastors’ grouping said homosexuals’ rights should not be given room in Malawi; hence, the need to re-arrest gays that were released last month.

But Centre for Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence on Sunday condemned the pastors’ stand, saying Malawi is a secular State where religious beliefs and culture should not be used as basis for oppressing others.

Late last year, police arrested Cuthbert Kulemeka and Kelvin Gomani who are suspected to be homosexuals. Government dropped the charges after pressure from donors and some civil society organisations (CSOs).

In a statement issued recently, YPCM condemned the release of the gays and urged government to review the law in relation to homosexual rights.

“YPCM feels there is an enormous need to have some alternative measures that must be put in place by the government of Malawi through some law enforcing agencies against those that are embracing the so-called gay practices or dealt with in another way round than letting them go free since we have no laws that legalise the act in Malawi at the moment,” reads the statement.

The pastors have since called on Malawians to fight against promotion of gay rights and have vowed to fight against homosexuality.

Asked what the grouping will do if the men are not re-arrested, YPCM national director Patrick Banda said the religious leaders will take unspecified action.

But speaking in an interview on Sunday, Trapence said religious leaders should not infringe on other people’s rights.

He said the rights of homosexuals have to be respected.

“It is worrisome that religious leaders