14 Year Prison Sentence Looming For Gay Couple in Malawi.

Malawi Gay Couple Would Rather Be Martyr's!




Tiwonge Chimbalanga and his partner Steven Monjeza are facing an incredibly harsh  possible 14 year prison sentence with hard labour for  becoming the first gay couple in Malawi to declare their commitment in a public ceremony .   As reported in The Guardian newspaper today,   Tiwonge would rather become an martyr than give in to the homophobia surrounding their case.




Gay rights veteran  campaigner Peter Tatchell, told the paper he'd  maintained contact with the pair at the maximum security Chichiri prison in Blantyre as they get ready to stand trial next week in Malawi.  He said  he received a strongly defiant message from Tiwonge Chimbalanga that said: "I love Steven so much. If people or the world cannot give me the chance and freedom to continue living with him as my lover, then I am better off to die here in prison. Freedom without him is useless and meaningless."


Tatchell, also quoted Monjeza,  who appears unwell, thin and weak with jaundiced eyes,  "We have come a long way and even if our family relatives are not happy, I will never stop loving Tiwonge."


Chimbalanga, 20, and Monjeza, 26, made history when they committed to marriage at a symbolic ceremony last December,  they are the very first gay couple to make such a move and bold statement of love in the  southern African country, where homosexuality is illegal.


Two days after that amazing show of love and courage, they were arrested at their home.  they appeared in court to facing three charges of unnatural practices between males and gross indecency. Obviously,  it's no surprise that they were denied bail and have been in jail ever since. 


The couple are due back in court on Tuesday, when magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa will deliver his verdict,  however according to many,  they are most likely to be sentenced to the maximum 14 years.


Gay sex is still illegal in 37 countries in Africa,  and according to recent research,  some 98% of the people in Cameroon, Kenya and Zambia disapprove of homosexuality.     South Africa,  is seen as the most accepting nation on the African continent,  with a range of legal advances for gays.   Such advances in equality are inspiring a new breed of gay  activist movements springing up in out countries.  Including,  Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and a few other countries as well.   Something that would have been impossible and unthinkable a few years ago.


Jason Shaw
GayAgenda.com's UK Correspondent.




Jason's own personal blog is The Seafront Diaries,  a lighter look on the aging process for a cheesecake loving Brit on England's south coast!
















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