Concerned with attempts towards the legalisation of homosexuality and same sex marriages in Malawi, religious bodies in Blantyre joined hands on Thursday in a march as a way of standing up against homosexual practices.

The religious bodies comprised of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Malawi Council of Churches (MMC), Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM), Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) and other religious groups.

Calling their petition as support for Marriages, Family and Human Sexuality, religious bodies marched from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and delivered their petition to Blantyre District Commissioner’s (DC) office.

Presenting the petition to the office of the DC, Pastoral Secretary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre Rev. Fr. Dr Peter Kantembe said their concern was that the legalisation of same-sex relationships will infringe on religious liberties in a way that once legalised, church leaders will be forced to bless same-sex couples in their churches against their spiritual convictions.

“Our other concern is that legalising same-sex relationships will promote moral decay in our society as our children will openly be taught homosexuality as being normal. Moreover, homosexuality threatens the natural family unit which is the core of a strong society,” said Kantembe.

In an interview, MAM General Secretary, Dr. Alhaj Twaibu Lawe said the march was one way of protecting Allah’s commandments saying man and woman were created to procreate hence same sex marriages would go against that.

“We will continue to appeal to government to ensure that there should not be same sex marriages in the country because the conduct is a disgrace and has no room to a country like Malawi,” he said.

Representing the office of the DC, Blantyre District Director of Administration, Redgeson Nkolombe was impressed that the religious groups followed the right procedures in delivering the petition and commended them for conducting a peaceful march.