USA aid to Malawi not dependent on gays -Envoy
United States of America (USA) envoy for the human rights of gays and lesbians has dismissed the claim that western aid to Malawi will be attached with a condition that the southern African nation approves of same-sex marriage.
Randy Berry, the first Special Envoy for the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI), people appointed by President Barack Obama, told Nyasa Times that the notion that aid will be given on the basis of outlawing homosexuality is “completely false”.
Berry stressed that he did not come to Malawi to pressure the government to allow homosexuality but on the need to combat discrimination against LGBTI people.
He said issues of LGBTI or minority rights cannot be divorced from much broader issues of good governance, the rule of law, and independence of the Judiciary,
Berry, who is a gay himself, said LGBTI issues do affect members of the community and several other things.
He, however, stressed USA engagement to Malawi is focused on improving governance, but there is no conditionality based on homosexuality.
The USA envoy nonetheless said the gay movement is growing and that LGBTI community in Malawi cannot be wished away.
Berry said it was not possible for conservative African nations like Malawi to “live in a bubble” on the question of the rights for gay couples but that they would not attach strings to aid on the laws on sexual orientation.
He said USA believes that “no persons should be subjected to discrimination or violence on any ground, including on the basis of sexual orientation.”
Homophobia is now deep-rooted in Malawi.
Malawi has traditionally been one of the largest recipients of international aid including assistance from USA
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu reaffirmed government’s decision to halt the arrest and prosecution of gay citizens while lawmakers review existing anti-gay laws.
Tembenu said no arrests or prosecutions must occur while the country reviews its laws.
-Ends –
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What is happening to our beautiful country. May God have mercy
Malawians are indeed stupid and retarded! Because they ignore evidence and depend on ancient myths like the Jewish god and his fake imaginary son. If For a second you have been convinced the bible is the word of superior being then u r a sorry lot indeed coz the people who brought u that Nonsense know Now that it’s garbage! Homosexuality is real, it exist in many species including humans so stop all these stupid baseless arguments and grow up malawi! Otherwise you will remain in the dark,start relying on objective evidence than stupid mythological cartoon like characters called gods
Amalawi anzanga umbuli suposa apa….tiyeni tiphunzire being civil in out debates. Bring real facts to the table not just rushing kutukwana. Do gays affect your lives because they choose to live the way they want. Why not investing all the that energy, and focus on other things that really and trully affect us?. Umphawi uli thooo….no hope for anything good koma basi gay this, gay that?….chonde let’s build our nation, our nation is governed by the constitution. So let’s take a closer look at it for once.
several rights that can be reviewed. right to heath,employment and so on. why should the gvt trick us? remember how the issue of msb was handled despite a vast opposition and that’s the typical of our poor government under its poor leadership. I bet one day we shall wake up only to read in the press the ant-gay law has bn trashed.that’s. frankly, behind the statement of the south called justice minister lies the poor ant-religious.remember Peter muntharika. he vowed to defend our constitution bt now hez trying everywhere possible to change the ant-gay law. I wish my hero Bingu… Read more »
It is clear from some of the hateful comments that this visit is needed. Why people are so obsessed with other peoples personal lives continues to amaze me. Gay people just want to live their lives in peace. On the contrary, these people who suggest stoning them etc and then in the same breath claim to be Christian…well who are the real evil people here? Life is too short to hate. If you want to be angry, be angry at poverty, disease, lack of infastructure. Leave gays in peace.
chindele chakufikapo
White people are stupid period
tikuchulukana ndi chifukwa chake akubweretsa zinthu izi poyera zinalipo kale koma chifukwa cha ma policy athu akulera ndiwoipa.akufuna muisove nokha
Here we go again.
Randay Berry are you gay yourself?
if yes then you’re stupid