By Watipaso Mzungu
A former Malawi Police Service officer, Chikondi Nthala [not her real name[, has claimed that she is suffering “persecution based on my sexual orientation as a lesbian” and is considering seeking asylum elsewhere.
Nthala, who was born on 04 October 1980, served as a law enforcement officer for 23 years, dedicated to upholding justice and maintaining public safety.
She, however, claims that her sexual orientation exposed her to grave risks since Malawi’s Penal Code criminalizes same-sex relationships under Section 153, which imposes up to 14 years of imprisonment for “unnatural offenses” while Section 156 imposes up to five years imprisonment for “indecent practices between women.”
“Despite my professional contributions, I became a target due to my identity, facing threats from both colleagues and the public. My retirement was originally scheduled for October 2040. However, in August 2023, I was informed by a trusted colleague of an internal investigation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals within the Malawi Police Service. A fellow officer from Nkhata Bay Police Station was arrested under similar accusations. Fearing exposure and arrest, I was forced to retire voluntarily in December 2023. This decision, while necessary for my safety, was made under duress and stripped me of my livelihood,” reads her asylum application, which we sourced.
Nthala states that in her quest to live a decent and happy life alone, she recently relocated to Kaphiri, a township in the outskirts of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe. However, her sexual orientation became known, resulting in escalating persecution.
Among others, Nthala says on 10th February 2024, her neighbor accused her of “recruiting” young women into homosexuality, an accusation that sparked hostility, with community members verbally abusing her and threatening to report her to the authorities.
On 5th June 2024, a mob attacked her home, throwing stones and damaging property. When she reported the incident to the police, they dismissed her case and warned her that her sexual orientation could lead to her arrest.
“On 31st October 2024, I was physically assaulted by six men at a local marketplace. They called me “satanic” and “a disgrace to Malawi,” with one striking my face, causing a deep cut on my nose that required medical treatment. Despite filing a report, the police refused to act, leaving me unprotected,” she narrates in the letter.
Nthala says it is against this background that she would want some country to grant her asylum, stressing that granting her much-sought asylum will uphold her basic human rights and enable her to contribute positively to the society.
“With my extensive experience in law enforcement, I am committed to supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity and protect vulnerable groups. I, Chikondi Nthala, therefore, respectfully submit this application for asylum due to my well-founded fear of persecution based on my sexual orientation as a lesbian. My identity, combined with my 23 years of service in the Malawi Police Service, has subjected me to systemic risks and threats under Malawi’s discriminatory laws and societal norms,” thus concludes the letter.
To support her application, Nthala has attached a number of documents, including her professional records, incident reports, medical records, witness statements, among others.