20100129
africanews

Members of Parliament in Malawi have criticised British and Scottish MPs for meddling in a sovereign state's affairs. The western law makers, particularly the Scotts, continue to discuss and criticise Malawi for the arrest of gay couple Steve Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga.
Malawi Parliament
Kondwani Nankuluma of the Legal Affairs committee of parliament said it was wrong for the Scottish MPs to meddle in Malawi's business.

"We are following our laws and proceeding with the case for the two in the courts. They have no part in this business as we have laws and we are following it. Why do they keep pestering us to release the two?" he said.

Monjeza and Chimbalanga were arrested a day after openly holding an engagement last year and announcing plans to officially marry in 2010.

Parliament, which started sitting on Tuesday, will also discuss possibility of amending a bill that caters for same sex in the national constitution with a view of establishing sterner punishment for offenders.

Religious and traditional leaders have said same sex marriages and relationships are an abomination and a taboo, and minister of information and civic education earlier told the nation this was total breakdown of morals.

"Our laws are clear and we shall take the matter constitutionally. We do not condone, as a nation, this type of relationships. It is very immoral and against the law," he said, reacting to rumours that some western states had pooled together financial resources to help some non-governmental organizations to lobby for pro-gay laws and for the well-being of the arrested couple.