Malawi pastors have threatened to move to court to force the government to arrest 4,000 homosexuals living in the northern city of Mzuzu, News24 reports.
The Young Pastors Coalition of Malawi (YPCM) has accused the government of encouraging homosexuality by its failure to arrest gays and lesbians.
YPCM’s call comes after a local human rights group Centre for the Development of the People (Cedep)released research findings which indicate that approximately 4000 homosexuals reside in Mzuzu.
The survey by Cedep was conducted to establish HIV/Aids prevalence and socio-behavioural characteristics amongst gays.
Despite same sex relations being outlawed in Malawi, the government has been reluctant to arrest and prosecute homosexuals.
The pastors’ coalition is demanding that Cedep presents the names of the 4,000 homosexuals to the police for arrest and prosecution.
“We want the group that conducted the survey to present the names of the 4 000 homosexuals to police so that they can be arrested and face prosecution,” the pastors said in a statement.
In response to the pastors’ call, Malawi’s Justice Minister Samuel Tembenu has advised them to concentrate on their work instead of poking their noses into matters of the state.
Under Malawi laws, convicted homosexuals are jailed for 14 years.
