McConnell in middle of gay rights row in Malawi

JACK MCCONNELL has found himself stuck in the middle of an ugly homophobic spat over gay rights in Malawi just months before he takes up his new post as the British High Commissioner of the impoverished African nation.

On one-side are the liberal gay rights group who believe McConnell will help them bring about an end to the criminal ban on gay relationships in Malawi, and on the other are the homophobic politicians who say the former Labour First Minister, who is due to take up his post in the new year, isn't welcome in the country, and even he should be stripped of his role as High Commissioner.

Gay rights campaigners have adopted the Motherwell and Wishaw MSP as their champion as a battle to overturn the legal ban on homosexuality.
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A spokesman for the Malawian Gay Rights Movement (Magrim), which was launched this month after years as an underground movement, said: "We are anxiously waiting for the arrival of Jack McConnell. He supports gay rights and we believe he will use his influence as High Commissioner as well as his close working relationship with President Bingu Mutharika to put in place friendly legislation for homosexuality."

But the citing of McConnell's liberal credentials by Magrim has sparked fury among hardline politicians.

MP Aden Mbowani of the opposition Malawi Congress Party wouldn't rule out the possibility of a campaign to replace McConnell as High Commissioner. He warned: "Homosexuality is an evil thing that can bring incurable disease to the whole world.

"This man you call McConnell, he will not influence any policy in this country. Personally, I wouldn't think he's welcome in Malawi. As a human being he can come and visit us, no problem. But to talk about homosexuality in our country, I don't think Malawians will want to listen to that kind of nonsense. It's a non-starter."

Mbowani - who sits on the parliament's Legal Affairs Committee - even took a veiled jibe at Scottish women, adding: "He will not manage to change us. We have beautiful women here to marry - even in his country there are beautiful women."

The row has ignited the Malawian blogosphere where writers and commentators are debating the issue online. On one website, there was growing suspicion that President Mutharika's tacit approval of Magrim's launch is the result of McConnell's influence.

One comment read: "There is simply not much of a vote of confidence to be obtained for homosexuality in Malawi - so you can implicate the Diplomat." Another stated: "McConnell and Mutharika, you are mad. Go away, leave the warm heart of Africa alone."

But one activist wrote: "Let McConnell come. We gays are happy for him. He will enhance our fight against homophobia."

A spokesman for the politician 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."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Mr McConnell's appointment ensures that someone who has had extensive experience both of development work and of the challenges facing Malawi will be in place."

McConnell is an MSP but has come under pressure to resign his seat before replacing Richard Wildash, who ends his term as our man in Lilongwe in January.

Speculation is rife that his resignation from Holyrood is imminent. A Labour source revealed the leadership is considering holding a snap poll in Motherwell and Wishaw on the same day as the Glenrothes by-election on November 6.

The insider said: "They're weighing up whether or not the SNP are likely to win Jack's seat. If they think defeat is on the cards, they will try to wrap up all the bad news on one day while the US elections are still hogging the headlines."