Donors warn Malawi on gays

by Thom Khanje

Malawi’s seven major international donors have warned the country on the issue of gay rights, saying the country risk isolation if it continued in the way it was handling cases of homosexuals in the country.

However, government has said Malawians needed time to build consensus on the matter which was still a “strange phenomena” in the country.

African Development Bank (AfDB) resident representative in Malawi Frank Kufakwandi, speaking in his capacity as Chairperson of the Common Approach to Budgetary (Cabs) group of donors countries, told journalist in Lilongwe that the group was concerned with the way the country was handling the issue of gays in the country.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the a Cabs Review meeting for the financial year 2009/2010, whose outcome, he said, forms a strong basis for Cabs development partners to make their disbursement decision.

“Issues of human rights have universal appeal. The current issue of homosexuals in Malawi has raised a lot of international concern, including members of the Cabs group, and Malawi needs to handle the issue with extra care,” said Kufakwandi.

Earlier, Kufakwandi said during the official opening of the meeting that key principles of Malawi’s budget support from the Cabs group are based on the country’s commitment to poverty reduction, respect for human rights, democratic principles, sound macro-economic management and good governance and effective anti-corruption programmes.

He said it was important for Malawi to take heed of the human rights issues which some of “our constituents” have raised.

“For example, some of the donor partner parliaments are closely following on the issues of press freedom and minority rights. The donor partners are ready to work with government in addressing some of these issues,” said Kufakwandi.

However, Deputy Minister of Finance Frazer Nihorya, who officially opened the Cabs meeting, told journalists that Malawians needed time to build consensus on the matter.

“This is a tricky matter because issues of rights have corresponding responsibilities. The public in Malawi is still debating on the issue of homosexuals because it was a new phenomenon in the country. It is the popular opinion of Malawians which will influence government’s position on the matter,” said Nihorya.
The Cabs group comprise the African Development Bank (AfDB), Britain, World Bank, German, Norway, Norway and the European Union.

They provide funding to meet about 40 percent of the country’s national budget and have commitments to provide K81 billion in budgetary support to Malawi for this year.

However, by end of February, only German, Britain and the European Union had released their pledges follow totalling about K16 billion.