According to a "New York Times" article by Barry Bearak which ironically ran on Feb. 14, gay lovers Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were both charged with indecency and unnatural acts after they became engaged after a traditional ceremony.
In the landlocked southeastern African nation of Malawi, homosexual acts can lead to a a prison sentence of up to five to fourteen years. Other African countires, such as Uganda and Gambia, are either proposing or have death sentences for anyone engaging in 'homosexual acts.' We thought this was only possible in places like Boones Mill, Va.
In all seriousness, Malawi is also one of the poorest countries in the world and it has a high population density. It is a popular destination for missionaires, such as Wes and Lorrie Jonat who are working ACOP Missionaires, based in Calgary, Canada.
There is also a web site promoting tourism in Malawi, which does an impressive job of touting the country's natural scenery and wildlife viewing area, including Lake Malawi, the Ntchisi Forest Reserve and Mount Mulanje.
But, negative news stories, such as these, are likely to prevent growth in the tourism sector which is unfortunate for the struggling Malawi population.
In Bereak's article, Leckford Thoto, Malawi's minister of information and civic affairs blamed outside influences: "These immoral acts are not in our culture; they are coming from outside." And, the article quoted Rev. Zacc Kawala, a local minister, as saying that westerners think that if Malawi does not accept their 'gay agenda' the country will be demeaned. He added: "But, we're not as wicked as the West."
According to "The New York Times," the trial is on-going.
Malawi has some 14 million people. The country's capital is Lilongwe and its largst city is Blantyre. Malawi's president is Binju wa Mutharika.
Amnesty International has condemned the incident, and is working with other organizations on providing a legal defense fund for the couple.
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