On the streets of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, roughly 50 members of the LGBTQ+ community marched with rainbow-coloured flags, t-shirts and and signs as they chanted “Viva LGBTI”.
T-shirts donned phrases such as “love first”, “embracing our queerness” and “pride unites world”. Due to the lack of progress for LGBTQ+ rights in Malawi, marchers wore masks to protect their identities.
Organisers also used the opportunity to deliver a petition to President Lazarus Chakwera calling on the government to repeal laws that criminalise same-sex unions. “The community is here to seek dialogue with the government and address issues affecting us,” said Eric Sambisa, co-founder and director of the Nyasa Rainbow Alliance, who also made history as the