Evangelical churches demands referendum on sodomy laws
The Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), an umbrella body for evangelical churches, has asked Malawi Government and donor agencies not to deny average Malawians essential services because of the looting of public funds at Capital Hill dubbed cashgate.
The plunder of government coffers in the cashgate scandal has forced donors to withdraw budgetary support to the country, something that has forced government to streamline its expenditure.
But addressing the media in the capital, Lilongwe on Friday, EAM general secretary Reverend Francis Mkandawire joined voices condemning the looting of public funds at Capital Hill.
Mkandawire said: “We appeal to government and our donor agencies that the financial scandal at Capital Hill should not obstruct government’s focus and attention from basic service delivery, addressing the most urgent needs of the citizens such as medicines and other essentials.”
EAM described cashgate as evil and a great enemy to national development.
“This [cashgate] is immoral and unacceptable. We must all join hands to uproot this evil in our midst with passion if we are to develop and prosper as a nation,” said Mkandawire.
On the sodomy laws which are currently under review in the High Court, EAM expressed fears that the debate on the issue has a likelihood of dividing Malawians.
“It is [an] undeniable fact that the homosexuality debate touches on people’s deep convictions both from a cultural and religious point of view. Probably this is one of the most divisive issues globally at the moment, even in countries where laws have been amended as being proposed in Malawi now. In India, the High Court did what is about to be done here but the Supreme Court of India has just reversed it and re-criminalised it,” said Mkandawire.
He said EAM demanded a referendum on sodomy laws.
Mkandawire refused to comment in detail on the issue, arguing the matter is in court.
On the May 20 Tripartite Elections, EAM also condemned some prophets who are prophesying that a particular presidential candidate will triumph in the polls. EAM said this practice can easily discourage prospective voters from exercising their constitutional right to choose people of their own choice.
EAM reminded such prophets that the only mandated body to declare winners in general elections is the Malawi Electoral Commission.
Minister of Information Brown Mpinganjira was not immediately available to comment on EAM’s concerns yesterday, but he is on record as saying government is doing everything it can to ensure that it stems corruption and fraud in the civil service as one way of improving efficiency.
“Mkandawire refused to comment in detail on the issue, arguing the matter is in court.”
The man refused to comment because his brain is empty and he had nothing sensible to say.
The Court has invited individuals, NGOs, churches and so on to become friends of the court and to submit their opinions to it on the “sodomy law” and how it sits with the Constitution. Did Mkandawire submit anything to the Court? It is a bench of seven judges who will look at the submissions and prepare a ruling. The judges are professional enough not to be influenced in any way by what is published in a newspaper, but only what has been submitted to it through proper channels.