24 May 2012
by Wawa Malawi
in Uncategorized
Tags: Malawi, lake Malawi, Lilongwe, Wawa Malawi, Malawi guide, Explore Malawi, See and Do Malawi, Malawi Photo's, Malawi Accommodation, Live in Malawi, Malawi Transport, Education in Malawi, Hospitals in Malawi, Mzuzu, Malawi Development, Developing Malawi, go to Malawi, sell, Madonna Malawi, Visiting Malawi, Malawi Challenge, Malawi foex, Malawi fuel crisis, Nyasa times, News of Malawi, Malawi news, Security in Malawi, Food in Malawi, Malawi people, Malawi charities, Wawa Malawi Classifieds, Malawi Domains, Malawi websites, Malawi graduate, studying in malawi, degree in Malawi, Malawi university, Joyce Banda, Joyce Banda Malawi, President Joyce Banda, President Bingu, Malawi President Dies, Death of Malawi President, Wawa Malawi News, Malawi Presidential Information, Wawa Joyce Banda, Malawi Elections 2014, Gay in Malawi, Malawi Gay Community, Human Rights Malawi, Same Sex Marriage Malawi
In what may come to be the first steps in a landmark move for LGBT rights in Africa, Malawian President Joyce Banda has announced plans to repeal laws which currently criminalize homosexual activity in the southeast African country.
Speaking at her first address to the nation as President, following the death of previous incumbent Bingu wa Mutharika, Banda declared that “Some laws which were duly passed by the August House [...] will be repealed as a matter of urgency [...] these include the provisions regarding indecent practices and unnatural acts.”
Whilst this may be a hugely significant step for any African government to make, such a repeal would make Malawi only the second African nation to adopt such a policy. South Africa has had a policy protecting LGBT rights enshrined in law since its post-apartheid constitution came into being in 1996. In fact, it was one of the first countries in the world to legalize gay marriage in 2006.
That said, whilst the law may be designed to protect gay rights, it can do little to affect change in the conscious of a nation where LGBT people are still serially stigmatized. One only has to consider the vile phenomenon of ‘corrective rape’ that has been inflicted upon a number of South African lesbians, the most well known of whom was former international footballer Eudy Simelane, who was gang raped and stabbed to death in 2008 as a result of her proudly publicized orientation. Others to have suffered at the hands of barbaric attitudes towards LGBT people include the 6 men who were murdered by a homophobic serial killer in Johannesburg in 2010-11, including HIV-positive TV presenter Jason Wessenaar Whilst these examples are extreme, they are indicative of the prejudices that are faced in the so-called ‘rainbow nation’.
President Banda’s people may well incur similar stigmatization. In 2010, under the governance of Mutharika, two men, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for daring to declare their love for one another publically. Whilst the president later pardoned them, this was less due to a shift in attitudes as a visit from UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon. The ordeal and media exposure later drove Chimbalanga to immigrate to Canada amid continuing threats to his safety. Chimbalanga & Monjeza were sentenced to 14 years before it was later revoked
It must be hoped that President Banda’s moves towards legalization are not more political posturing. In November 2011, David Cameron said at a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting that the UK may consider cutting aid to nations who have poor track records of promoting LGBT rights. Given that the vast majority of Malawi’s budget is made up of aid, it makes sense politically and financially for Banda to position herself, and her nation, as promoting LGBT rights. It must also be noted that whilst David Cameron’s stance might seem admirable, Malawi and many other Commonwealth nations had never had anti-homosexual laws of any kind until towards the end of British colonial rule in the 1930s.
Such headlines are typical of the negative attitudes surrounding the LGBT community in Malawi
On the day that Monjeza and Chimbalanga were handed their sentences, the judge had told them, “Malawi is not ready to see its sons getting married to its sons.” If Joyce Banda has the perseverance to persist at truly promoting LGBT rights within Malawi, it could become a beacon for all Africa in promoting equality. If one of the most impoverished nations on the continent can lead by example, surely that bodes well for the LGBT community in Africa long-term?
15 May 2012
by Wawa Malawi
in Uncategorized
Tags: Malawi, lake Malawi, Lilongwe, Wawa Malawi, Malawi guide, About Malawi, Explore Malawi, See and Do Malawi, Malawi Photo's, Malawi Accommodation, Live in Malawi, Malawi Transport, Education in Malawi, Hospitals in Malawi, Mzuzu, Malawi Development, Developing Malawi, Business in Malawi, go to Malawi, charity, sell, Madonna Malawi, Visiting Malawi, Malawi Challenge, Malawi foex, Malawi fuel crisis, Nyasa times, News of Malawi, Malawi news, Security in Malawi, Food in Malawi, Malawi people, Malawi charities, Wawa Malawi Classifieds, Bingu Wamutharika, buy, Malawi Domains, Malawi websites, Malawi graduate, studying in malawi, degree in Malawi, Malawi university, Bingu Cardiac Arrest, Joyce Banda, Joyce Banda Malawi, President Joyce Banda, Bingu Wa Mutharika, President Bingu, Malawi President Dies, Death of Malawi President, Wawa Malawi News, Malawi Presidential Information, Wawa Joyce Banda, Malawi Elections 2014, Bingu Wa Mutharika Hospitalised
For the first time since launching Wawa Malawi (www.wawamalawi.com), I travelled to Malawi for a few coincidental reasons; Joyce Banda had just become the first Malawian female President, Wawa Malawi was ready to present its portfolio however on a personal matter, my father was fighting for his life after suffering from a stroke.
There were many mixed emotions whilst travelling, and the journey to Malawi from the UK lasted 32 hours. I was absolutely exhausted. Landing in Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, i was greeted by the hot Africa Sun, and the sweet nutty scent of dust in the air. I was home, and I the first thing I could sense through every corner, was the sense of positiveness people had, it seems the coming of a new President had given Malawians an amazing sense of hope. In the distance, whilst I could see Kenyan Airways taking off, I also noticed a big aeroplane, with the name ‘United States of America’; it seems the support was already here.
This particular trip to Malawi for me was a very special one, I was about to introduce the Wawa Malawi brand to the country, unsure of what the response would be, I held my head up high, I knew what I was here for as well as what It was I had to do; but more importantly I knew that the Malawian people depended on what I was about to do, they just didn’t know it yet…
Although many people within Malawi, believed Malawi hadn’t progressed very much forward, I couldn’t help but agree, however the important thing is it was about to, fuel was coming in from Zambia and South Africa, donations were coming in from the West and the smell of opportunity was on everyone’s lips.
On day one of being in Malawi, I realised business wasn’t handled as it was in the West, individuals in Malawi networked, everyone knew everyone in the business world, if someone had an opportunity they knew who they had to contact to conclude the missing link, it was amazing and fascinating, it was almost like watching a team of termites and everyone just knew what they had to do.
On my first opportunity to go out in Malawi, I was greeted by many people congratulating us on developing Wawa Malawi; It was then that I realised what it was we had developed, however the level of positive response was something I didn’t expect. When I spoke to business owners, they told me they had been following Wawa Malawi since we launched two years ago, immediately after talking they were diverting me to speak to their family and friends who also owned businesses that would benefit from being associated with the Wawa Malawi brand, it was incredible, I was witnessing a ripple effect of supporters, and this wave was travelling fast.
My final week in Malawi was perhaps the most productive and incredible moments for me as well as the Wawa Malawi brand. I had trained and recruited 6 Wawa Malawi representatives in Blantyre, who will be brand ambassadors, I decided to develop a Wawa Malawi lodge 20 minutes from Cape Maclear, I had developed over 50 business relationships with key players in Malawi, I had created artist accounts and taken images of all artists on the curio site by Chilembwe Rd in Blantyre, I had travelled to three key districts, Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mangochi. The eye opener for me was Mangochi, and the reason to this is the first two districts I had travelled to represented cities, whilst Mangochi took me into the heart of village communities, although not the poorest of Malawian Districts, I spent most of my time looking for successful development projects, but could see none. Don’t get me wrong, I noticed Schools and Hospitals here and there, but not to the justifiable amounts that were donated to develop those projects.
For centuries the West has thought of ways to help poor Malawian communities, although temporary help success is very minimal, I believe the main picture here was being missed. The majority of us Malawians sit back and watch the West try to help, yet when something doesn’t work we’re the first to criticise, yet we ourselves, with our own people, don’t implement what we preach. The Wawa Malawi website was created initially as an information, communication and business highway. A single domain to which researchers, Malawians, and foreigners can find information on Malawi, the principal yet simple was designed to create a ripple effect. If we could become the one soul information directory on Malawi as well as help every business represent themselves on the website, foreign investors or tourists will have no need to go elsewhere for information, I mean Why Would They? The result would not only be a high influx of Forex, but an increase in job opportunities and advancement in many mandatory sectors within Malawi. However If this single Malawian hub could develop such a large network of partners and stakeholders, it’s then easy to introduce development programmes to communities within Malawi, as we would ask our partners to sponsor work placements, training, tools + materials. The result is a country working together for one purpose; to become self sufficient and secure the future of Malawi. As the old saying goes ‘Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish and feed him for life’.
To be Continued…
