CHURCHES IN MALAWI UNITE FOR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST SAME SEX MARRIAGES

On 13th July 2023, churches across Malawi came together in a remarkable display of unity to organize and participate in peaceful demonstrations. As organized by Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) together with Malawi Council of Churches, Muslim Association of Malawi, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) and Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM); the peaceful protest was staged national wide against legalization of same-sex marriages in Malawi. This comes as the Constitutional Court of Malawi continues to hear a case in which Jan Willem Akstar, a Dutch national, and Jana Gonani, a transgender Malawian, argue that Malawi’s anti-homosexuality laws violate their fundamental rights, privacy and dignity.

In Blantyre Archdiocese, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa led the congregants together with other Church Leaders. The protest in Blantyre started at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital roundabout ending at the Blantyre District Council’s office. In Chikwawa, Bishop Peter Musikuwa, led the congregants from Thabwa ground and ending at Chikwawa’s District Council. In Karonga, the protest started from Karonga Freedom Park to Karonga’s District Council. In Lolongwe, the protest started from Mtima Woyera Parish and ending at Parliament. In Mzuzu, they started at Katoto ground and ending at Mzuzu’s District Council. Lastly, in Zomba, the protest started at Zomba Community Ground and ending at Zomba’s District Council.