Malawi faces the music after gays' imprisonment

Malawi is a nation in defense gear. Following the conviction and subsequent sentencing to 14 years of professed gays, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, Malawi is now under pressure from cooperation partners to reverse the decision and pardon the two.
The US, Britain, Norway The Netherlands and, early this week, Global Fund, have been on government's neck, trying to pump sense into Capital Hill's thick neck that the two's imprisonment will reverse the fight against HIV and AIDS among gays.
The argument is that Malawian gays and lesbians will now shun ARV treatment, let alone the opportunity to get condoms from medical institutions, in fear of possible arrest.
That is the impression one gets from Richard Ligdon, a South African lawyer based in Malawi and many other donors.
But government spokesperson, Reckford Thoto, has asked the donors to shut up, saying Malawi is a sovereign state, though it continued to walk with a begging bowl some 45 years after independence.
Traditional leaders such as Inkosi ya Makosi Mbelwa have also backed government, saying Chimbalanga and Monjeza are trying to corrupt the country's morals by bringing 'strange behaviour'.
But Malawi Gay Rights Movement Spokesperson, Wongani James Phiri, has backed the donors, asking them to freeze aid until Malawi begins to respect human rights.
"Malawi is a jungle right now; there is no respect for human rights," said Phiri.