On July 14, the religious mother bodies comprising Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM) and Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) held peaceful marches in the country’s major cities and some districts against same sex marriages.

MCM General Secretary Reverend Alemekeze Chikondi Phiri told us they want Parliament to include the matter on priority issues to be discussed.

“We are expecting that during this parliamentary session, whatever the case, this issue is going to be discussed because it is a very big issue and you know 95 percent of Malawians are faith people.”

MAM spokesperson Sheikh Dinala Chabulika also said they are eagerly waiting to see the petition tabled in parliament.

“We would like to see them table the petition; we are waiting for that and are monitoring what is happening in parliament on the matter,” said Sheikh Chabulika.

The matter is on the list of upcoming business appearing on the order papers in the current sitting of parliament. However, legislator for Mulanje West Yusufu Nthenda who received the petition could not tell the exact time he will table it.

Said Nthenda, “Since the petition is appearing on the order paper, I will just wait for the speaker to allocate time to it so that it can be tabled.”

In their petition religious mother bodies said God designed marriage to be between man and woman and this should not be changed.

The petition came at a time a constitutional court in the commercial city is hearing a case in which two men petitioned it to interpret the constitutionality of the law that bars same sex relationships in the country.