Listing

Malawi: Dire costs for campaign amid virus – experts

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:50 pm

Officials and experts are sounding the alarm as Malawi shifts to top campaign gear with giant rallies for an unprecedented presidential re-run despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Malawi University of Science and Technology virologist Gama Bandawe warned that the consequences would be dire. “It effectively leaves us to face the full unmitigated force of the pandemic,” he told KnowAfrika.

He said Malawians “will only fully understand the impact once we start to see burial teams and mass graves” because the disease is “deceptively undramatic until it is too late”.

Political scientist Michael Jana said the bitter power struggle has seen the country throw caution to the wind. “If politicians can break these rules willy-nilly, people will also follow suit,” said Jana.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged politicians to ensure that social distancing is observed and to issue free face masks to rally goers.

“It is very important to keep that physical distance and assuring these events do not become an occasion for the virus to spread further into the population,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

The southern African country will hold polls in just under two months after the Constitutional Court overturned the results of last year’s controversial election, which handed President Peter Mutharika a second term.

Mutharika garnered just 38.5 percent of the May 21 vote but the Constitutional Court annulled the result, citing “grave” and “widespread” irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on ballot papers.

Polling is due on July 2, but could be brought forward to June 23, the electoral commission said this week.

In a blatant defiance of a ban on large gatherings, thousands of elated supporters jostled and shoved shoulder-to-shoulder cheering on their candidates as they handed in their nomination papers last week.

Immediately after that, parties hit the road, attracting huge crowds.

Health Minister Jappie Mhango chided his colleagues on the campaign trail. “Elections or not, we need people and we cannot be sending them to the grave because we want to win an election.

“We’re being careless. If the leaders themselves cannot even observe social distancing, who will be telling people …about the seriousness of the pandemic?” he said.

Coronavirus infections have been slowly creeping in Malawi and now stand at 63, including three deaths, since the first case emerged on April 2.

There is no lockdown but the government has ordered public gatherings to be capped at 100 people.

A court last month blocked the government from imposing a full lockdown because it had failed to announce any measures to cushion the vulnerable.

(AFP)

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

At least 7 members of the Nigerian security forces are missing after insurgentsambushed their convoy

A team of 80 security agents tasked with protecting the electricity grid was ambushed onMonday in Shiroro, Niger State, by…

November 21, 2024

Cryptocurrency Gains Momentum inAfrica Amid Global Shifts in Trump’sElection

Cryptocurrency becomes the new thing in Africa. People shift for stable alternatives aftertheir unstable local currencies. Many people believe Donald…

November 21, 2024

UAE Delivers Lifeline: 30,000 Food BasketsBring Hope to Sudanese Refugees in Uganda

UAE has also distributed 30,000 food baskets to Sudanese refugees in Kiryandongo refugeecamp Uganda to benefit nearly 100,000 affected people.Aid…

November 21, 2024

Turkey wants to increase its trade with Africa to 50 billion dollars

The trade volume between Türkiye and 54 African countries has grown sevenfold, reaching $37 billion from 2003 to 2023, Yılmaz…

November 20, 2024

Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique Secure Spots in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

The final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches was held this week with Tanzania, Botswana and…

November 20, 2024

Lucas Moripe: The Masterpiece of SA Football Leaves a Legacy

'Masterpieces' Lucas Moripe passed away at his Atteridgeville home on Tuesday at his senior year of 71. His style of…

November 20, 2024

This website uses cookies.