From:

"Director" <csrbasis@malawi.net>   Add to Address Book

To:

"LESBIAN AND GAY MALAWI" <lgmm2005@yahoo.co.uk>

Subject:

Re: HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS IN MALAWI

Date:

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:34:36 +0200

Dear

Thank you for your e-mail. I agree with you that it's high time the Centre for Social Research (CSR) and its Research Fellows commented and carried out research on issues to do with homosexuality. I also agree that there is a tendency to focus debate and research on politics at the expense of other equally if not more pressing and consequential matters.

CSR's mission statement states in part that, CSR "conducts and promotes excellence in academic and applied social science research ... so as to inform policy ..."

Currently CSR Research on discrimination against homosexuals and their rights falls within the CSR's mandate. CSR's agenda is constructed around the following four thematic clusters the last one of which is most pertinent to the issues you mentioned:.

+  poverty and sustainable livelihoods;

+  access to and management of natural resources;

+  socio-cultural dimensions of public health; and

+  democracy and governance. 

CSR also carries out research on gender and other social issues that are cross-cutting.

The major callenge facing CSR is securing funding for research activities. If a client, like LGMM, provides funding fo research on the issues you mentioned, and CSR finds the terms of reference acceptable, CSR can carry out the study. Currently CSR is striving to create a situation where it does not have to rely on client-driven research so that it (CSR rather than the client) can decide the issues to do research on. 

As for mere comenting on the issues, CSR Research Fellows as individuals are free to make comments in their own personal capacity.

I will be glad to discuss with you more about what CSR can and cannot dorelating to the issues you raised.

Regards

Dr Charles Chilimampunga

Director, CSR    

----- Original Message -----

From: LESBIAN AND GAY MALAWI

To: csr@sdnp.org.mw ; Buncoalumni@yahoogroups.co.uk

Cc: csrcps@malawi.net

Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 1:21 PM

Subject: HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS IN MALAWI

FORMATION OF A CRUSADE

I am writing to bring to your attention as social researchers that its high time you started researching and commenting on real social issues of homosexuality. It is the mark of civilisation to wish to join in the political life of the community (Aristotle conviction). You  don’t only have to discuss political issues in the abstract but in helping to build a better Malawi through giving a clear picture of the rights  of a prospective voluntary movement that attempts to influence Malawis homosexual events at the moment. Because if politics is to be thought of only in terms of the activities of the nation-state, then the slope for ordinary citizens like me and many others is necessarily a limited one.

Malawians  don’t have to be forced to obey a morally justified law that conflicts with their own immediate inclinations-the impulse of appetite through perpetuating hate toward the gay community.

I completely believe that no person was born by mistake, and that God has a purpose for all of us; God plans who will be born and when. In other words, while fighting for the rights and freedom of the homosexuals in Malawi is a positive step, it is not a silver bullet and it means little without God’s blessings. The resolution of the enactment of sexual orientation in Malawi shall be realized through prayers and by asking God for an awakening to correct value systems.

"Discrimination cannot and will never be a comparative advantage. Everyone knows that discrimination exacerbates criminality".

Human beings only became inhabitants of the individual countries at God’s pleasure. In that respect, there is no one country which is better to God. The relative material differences are man made. Any country can change its material wealth with faith in God. Therefore, the people to be appointed should have the heart to serve others and not themselves. Exodus 18:21 advises those who serve others should fear God, be trustworthy, and hate dishonest gains"

"Political system cannot provide the solutions to human rights abuse. The problem with political systems is with the leaders who champion them. Any political leadership not inspired by the power of faith is bound to fail as politics is the process of governing oneself well before governing others. Some people go into politics to govern others, not themselves. Kim (1984 p 204) argues that a good leader should have an exemplary lifestyle"

History has shown that strength, inclusion, equality and opportunity for all are the building blocks that can create a more perfect union. But these aren't passive principles to be implied or inferred. Like the truth of our lives, they must be declared openly and proudly as part of our commitment to building a nation of justice, not inequality. There must be fairness, not discrimination; unity, not separatism; a nation where "liberty and justice for all" can transcend rote recitation to become an authentic part of the western experience.

LGMM ----Executive Crusader