MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera has criticised the state for dropping charges against two gays, saying suspension of homosexual laws should be approved by parliament.
Lazarus Chakwera said this following the dropping of homosexual charges against Cuthbert Kulemeka, 19 and Kelvin Gonani who were charged with an offence of having sex against the order of nature, a charge which attracted a maximum of 14 years imprisonment with hard labour. ”
This is a very serious issue which needed to be tabled in parliament. Government on its own should not have suspended the laws,” Chakwera said on an interview with a local radio station on Monday.
Leader of New Labour Party Sam Mpasu said it was unfortunate that powerful rich nations find it easy to pressurise weak poor nations like Malawi on issues like homosexuality leaving out other powerful rich nations.
“They cannot do this to countries like Saudi Arabia who have tougher laws on sexuality than Malawi. Malawi is their easy prey,” said Mpasu .
U.S.-based Human Rights Watch and the American and German embassies in Malawi had condemned the mens’ arrest.
