Lucius Banda hits back at CSOs over gays

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lucius banda

Malawi’s  veteran musician who is also parliamentarian for Balaka West constituency, Lucius Banda, has hit back at the recent claims made by Centre for Peoples Development (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence over the rights of gays in the country.

This follows Lucius Banda’s decision to end his show prematurely at Zitherepano in Mangochi when two gay people started kissing each other near his stage.

Banda then took to Facebook where he apologised to Malawians for ending the show in such a manner but was quick to say that he could not hang on upon seeing the gay lovers in action.

Gift Trapence
Trapence: Drilled Banda.

The development forced Trapence to voice out his concern saying if the musician saw something wrong in what the gay lovers did, he should start performing in churches where such things would not happen.

However, the musician took to Facebook again to respond to the statement made by the Cedep boss.

“Let me begin by stating that I am a believer in traditional African values and therefore I have the right to comment on contemporary issues affecting Malawians.”

“If he has the audacity to call me homophobic then he is heterophobic. He should not fool Malawians that there is a global consensus on gayism or lesbianism because even in the so called United States of America, the issue is being polarized among the Democrats and the Republicans,” said Banda in his post.

He then made it clear to Trapence that he will not apologize.

“I am a firm believer of the natural law and I have no apologies to make. We all know that the opposite attracts each other and when they do not, something is completely wrong,” explained Banda.

lucius banda
Banda: I have my side.

He then asked the government and all the involved stakeholders to hold a referendum on the issue so that Malawians should decide.

“This issue should not be used to foster a culture or a philosophy on people. Let change come originally on this issue not through force and imperial means. In this regard, I propose that Malawi as a country, should consider holding a referendum to put this to rest,” concluded the celebrated musician. The gay issue came to limelight when two people who were arrested by Malawi

Police weeks ago for having sex, were released by government last week following pressure from donors.

Banda publicly condemned the decision saying it was as if the government legalized the acts of homosexuality.

Malawians have also made it clear that they are not ready to accept same sex marriages in the country.