McConnell challenged on Malawi job over his support for gay rights

SENIOR Malawian politicians have vowed to challenge Jack McConnell's appointment as their country's next high commissioner because of his support for gay rights, it emerged yesterday.

Friday Jumbe, presidential candidate for the main opposition party, the United Democratic Front, said

Mr McConnell supported the repeal of Section 28, which banned teaching about homosexuality in schools, and oversaw the introduction of same-sex civil partnerships.

"To have a man who supports gay rights to come to Malawi is dangerous for us," Mr Jumbe said. "He can easily use his influence as high commissioner to force legislation and that's my biggest fear.

"I don't want him and I know I am speaking for my party and many legislators that we cannot allow such a person in Malawi."

This is the latest in a series of problems to hit Mr McConnell's appointment as the next British High Commissioner of Malawi.

He is due to take up the role in 2009 but Gordon Brown's decision to appoint a Labour politician angered unions representing senior civil servants, who said the post should have been decided in an open competition.

Now Mr McConnell seems to have infuriated some politicians in Malawi simply by his approach to issues in Scotland.

However, the opposition of Mr Jumbe has to be seen in the context of Mr McConnell's good working relationship with Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi's president.

Mr McConnell got on well with Mr Mutharika when he visited Malawi in 2005 and again when the president came to Scotland on a return visit.

The two leaders signed a joint co-operation agreement, forging close links between the two administrations and Mr Mutharika is unlikely to oppose the appointment of someone with whom he works so well.

It would also be unheard of for a British high commissioner to try to force legislation through the Malawian parliament, as Mr Jumbe fears. But his intervention is embarrassing, both for Mr McConnell and the UK government, which put him forward for the post.

A spokesman for the former first minister said: "Jack McConnell is not going there to tell the people or their politicians what to do. He is going with the aim of helping to improve the education that young people receive.

"His intentions and commitments are clear and have been widely welcomed in Malawi."

Malawi is strongly anti-gay, criminalising homosexual acts between consenting adults. Earlier this year, its legal affairs committee rejected pleas from human rights lawyers to repeal the code.

AID VOW, BUT MALAWI NOT ALONE

THE Scottish Executive gives £3 million a year to Malawi in the form of aid to Scottish charities working in the southern African country.

The Malawi initiative was started by Jack McConnell in 2005 when he was first minister.

The SNP-led Executive has promised to widen the scope of Scotland's aid effort. Last week it announced it was doubling the foreign aid budget to £9 million.

Linda Fabiani, the minister responsible, stressed that the new Executive would not scale back the resources that had been given to Malawi.

But the minister added: "Scotland also has strong links with other countries, many of which would benefit from assistance, and it is right that we do not forget them."