Update on Malawi's Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga

An update on Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, the Malawian couple who became the focus of international attention after they were sentenced to 14 years' hard labor for holding an engagement ceremony. Only one week after their pardon by President Bingu wa Mutharika, Monjeza publicly renounced Chimbalanga and announced his engagement to a woman named Dorothy Gulo.

Monjeza and Gulo's engagement is sadly becoming more tabloid fodder, reports The Nyasa Times.

"When Nyasa Times tried to find out about Monjeza’s new sweet heart, it was discovered that she is a prostitute (hooker) who stays in a one roomed apartment behind one of the bars in Chirimba. 'Actually the two met at a drinking joint because Steve is an alcoholic,' said (a neighbor). Monjeza’s sister refused to speak to the media but said apart from what the papers said about the new love, there is nothing that the family know about Dorothy. The sister said she feels sorry for Monjeza who she described as a shame to her family."

The newspaper also reports a businessman attempted to offer Monjeza money to start over, but "found him drunk" over several days. Yet another casualty of the harsh anti-LGBT climate ...

In related news: Monjeza's public renunciation of Chimbalanga was reported by media in Ghana, with the proviso that Monjeza was "pressured ... due to death threats, public insults and abuses which also coupled with threats to re-arrest the duo by the government and police." Those important facts are glossed over by media in Malawi.

Comments

[Derrick from Philly]

I hope that both Steven and Tiwonge can find peace and find their way the f-ck out of Malawi.

And call me a cynical b-tch, but this story would make a fantastic screen vehicle for two black screen actors who'd have the guts to do it: Jeffrey Wright or Don Cheadle? Absolutely. Will Smith or Jamie Foxx...well, maybe?

[ToddyEnglish]

This is nothing but a cover up. The woman is a beard; and she's helping them stay together behind the scenes.
They are doing this for survival, plain and simple.
SAD!

[Jim]

Derrick, in a better world, it would be two African actors playing in your movie.

But before they make the movie, it might be nice to have a real, halfway happy ending first.