We will demonstrate on gays—Rastas

President Joyce Banda last week said government will repeal the laws that criminalise homosexuality in Malawi. JAMES CHIMPWEYA talked to Rastas Vision Jah and Shadreck Nampeya, who are senior officials of the Nyahbinghi Sect, who said they will demonstrate if government goes ahead to repeal the laws.

 

What is your reaction to government’s decision to repeal the laws on homosexuality?

Our reaction is simple and straightforward. Governments come into power through the ballot and for this we urge government to go back to voters and seek their views on the issue before MPs start discussing it in Parliament.

Why are you saying MPs should go back to voters for their views?

This is a human law and we must seek peoples’ views and also seek what God is saying on this before we start amending it. God is the head of human rights as creator of the universe. To us, this is genocide and in future we will have no generation if we insist on this.

What about the rights of minorities?

Not all minorities who do not believe in God promote same-sex marriages as it is that not all Rastas use Indian hemp. Let us put it straight here: if government goes ahead and repeal the laws, it should also repeal the law that bans public use of Indian hemp because this is what God gave to man to eat as green vegetables, according to Genesis 1 verses 29. Rastas are part of minorities in the country and our rights of using Indian hemp should also be considered as well if the issue here is minority groups.

So what will you do if government goes ahead on the gay laws?

As Rastas, we look back where we come from and we are planning to hold demonstrations to show our anger over the issue. We cannot sit and watch things being done to please a few individuals in the country. By repealing the laws, it will mean we are not economically free because we are dancing to the tune of donors. Malawi should fight for redemption and not foreign aid and relying on donors is a symbol of laziness. We believe that our President is a devoted Christian and it puzzles us to see her calling for the repeal of these laws. Is she trying to fight the creator who created males and females and authorised marriages? Malawians, we should know that man is nature and it is necessary to follow the rules of nature and marriage is spiritual union. This is time for Malawi to wake up and speak against some of the bad decisions government might impose.