PP changes tune on homosexuality

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Joyce Banda

….fires warning shots at Mutharika

Former ruling Peoples’ Party (PP) under whose leadership the laws that criminalise homosexuality were suspended has changed its stance on the contentious issue.

In an interview with Malawi24, PP publicity secretary Ken Msonda urged the Malawi government to cosider holding a referendum when it is apparent that the no to homosexuality vote would carry the day with a bigger margin.

Joyce Banda
Joyce Banda suspended laws against homosexuality

“Let me warn Peter Mutharika that the decision they have to make on the matter has to be in line with the needs of the majority,” Msonda said.

However when put to him that a popular decision might make donors angry, Msonda self-contradicted when he said that poor Malawians should not suffer because of few groups.

“Referendum is the only way to go on the homosexual issue. Government should not chose to decide on its own on the issue. It is very sensitive and Malawians demand to be given a room,” said Msonda.

In their time of leadership, the PP ordered the suspension of all laws that criminalise homosexuality. In her post on Facebook that has caused public outrage, US Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer referred to the suspension as she quizzed why the pair of Cuthbert Kulemera and Kelvin Gonani was arrested for gay sex.