Blantyre - Malawi has suspended laws banning same-intercourse relationships in a move welcomed on Monday by rights groups who urged a full repeal during an upcoming parliamentary debate.
Rights group Amnesty International said the shelving of the laws, which carry a maximum jail term of 14 years for gay men, was a "historic step in the fight against discrimination".
"Amnesty International hopes it serves as the first step towards ending discrimination and persecution based on real or perceived intercourseual orientation and gender identity in Malawi," said southern Africa director Noel Kututwa.
The country's Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara told a recent radio debate that the laws will not be "enforced until the time that parliament makes a decision".
"There is a moratorium on all such laws, meaning that police will not arrest or prosecute anyone based on these laws," Kasambara, who is also attorney general, said on local private radio station Zodiac.
Malawi's Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) welcomed the move, but said the laws must be abolished.
"It's a good step the same-intercourse laws have been suspended, but the laws are still intact. We need more action and demand that the laws are repealed for people to enjoy their rights," director Gift Trapence told AFP.
"Suspending the laws does not mean repealing," he said. "The only way out is to repeal the laws and Malawians should remove their biases and prejudices when debating these issues."
The move comes two years after two Malawians were sentenced to 14 years of hard labour for sodomy during late president Bingu wa Mutharika's rule. The couple were released amid an international outcry.
After taking office in April, President Joyce Banda said the laws should be abolished.
"We urge the government not to lose momentum on this basic human rights issue and to ensure the full repeal of these discriminatory and hate-filled laws," said Amnesty's Kututwa.
Under the country's penal code, men can be sentenced for up to 14 years and women to five years for homointercourseuality. - Sapa-AFP
IOLSA
How did these sodom lifestyle creep into African culture? Surely the end is neigh!