After international protests: Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga are free!
Speaking on the occasion of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to the Malawian capital Lilongwe, Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika announced today that he had pardoned Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20.
The two men were arrested in December after their public engagement party and sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour a week ago. have been sentenced. Worldwide protests, in which the EU, the USA, the UN and Madonna, among others, took part, were the result. Many countries threatened to withhold the development aid earmarked for Malawi if the judgement was not overturned. This has now clearly had an effect.
During the meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Mutharika declared: "These men have committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our legal system. Nevertheless, as a leader, I am compelled to pardon them without conditions and will arrange for their immediate release."
Ban Ki-moon welcomed the President's decision.
(Paul Schulz)
