MALAWIAN COUPLE COULD FACE MEDICAL TESTS

Two gay Malawian men, recently arrested for getting married in a symbolic ceremony, reportedly face medical tests to assess if they have had sex.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga (20) and Steven Monjeza (26) were arrested on a charge of public indecency at the end of December but police are investigating additional charges, including “unnatural practices between males”.

If found guilty of having gay sex the men could face up to 14 years in jail.

According to the Guardian, the men have insisted that they have not yet consummated their relationship, but prosecutors claim that the men have lived together since August and demanded that they undergo the tests.

The court has not yet ruled on the application, with human rights activists pointing out that forcing the men to be examined against their will would be unconstitutional and a violation of their human rights.

Meanwhile, in an interview with The Times, Chimbalanga and Monjeza claimed that they have been beaten in at Chichiri prison in Blantyre.

“Why? Why beating us? We have done no wrong. If they say we have broken laws, why not let the courts judge us?” said Chimbalanga, who dresses as a woman.

The relationship appears to be on the rocks however, with Monjeza now claiming that he was drunk when he married his partner and expressing remorse for his actions.

“Well, I was drunk. I guess I wanted to be famous but I am now regretting. Prison life is no good. I realised we have broken the laws. I am calling this off. I am not crazy. I have another woman I intended to marry but I loved Tiwonge. I guess I should apologise to that other woman,” Monjeza told the newspaper.

In response, Chimbalanga said: “Well, he is the one who proposed to me. I still love him though. Love is between two people, the third one is a spoiler. The police is the spoiler here.”

He added: “We are not supposed to be here. You don’t arrest someone because he loves someone.”