Gay Malawi Introduction: Despite it’s low profile on the world stage, the small southern African territory called Malawi contains a wondrous variety of scenery, tribal traditions, modern innovation and a nascent and determined gay organization focused around health education and human rights. Within this conservative homophobic culture LGB citizens have found effective ways of survival.
Malawi was colonized by the British who ruled the country until 1964. Upon gaining independence it became a single-party state under the presidency of Hastings Banda, who remained president until 1994 when he was ousted from power. Bingu Mutharika, elected in 2004, is the current president, and as of 2008, Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which is a drain on the labor force and government expenditures. Homosexual acts are illegal in Malawi. Section 153 prohibits “unnatural offences”. Section 156 concerning “public decency” is used to punish homosexual acts. Tourists who commit acts of homosexuality with locals can be prosecuted under article 156 and expelled as “undesirable aliens”.
Malawi – Lilongwe
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. The enormous Lake Malawi is almost the same size as the land area. Malawi is over 118,000 km2 with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital is Lilongwe, the biggest city is Blantyre. The name Malawi