Sunday, January 24, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Columns Bottom Up

Covid-19: APM has failed to lead by example

by Levi Zeleza Manda
20/06/2020
in Bottom Up
4 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Until today, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that there is no vaccine or cure for Covid-19. Drugs are being administered to treat symptoms with the latest being dexamethasone, which has been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of the coronavirus disease.

The Malagasy herbal concoction, Covid Organics, is yet to be confirmed, certified and prescribed by the WHO and other international health organisations as a cure for Covid-19. Of course, vaccines are being trialed worldwide but, we emphasise, no anti Covid-19 vaccine or cure is currently available.

RelatedHeadlines

Thanks Team Onjezani Kenani; our turn now

For 20 Pounds John Chilembwe was betrayed

Local expertise can generate Covid-19 vaccine demand

Meanwhile, as of Thursday, the Johns Hopkins University in the USA reports that over 8 million people worldwide have been confirmed to have caught the coronavirus and over 450 000 have since died. The good news is that there are more recoveries than deaths. The sad news is that the Covid-19 infections are increasing worldwide.

There appears to be positive correlation between countries whose leaders think Covid-19 is a hoax and the number of infections. Initially, President Donald Trump did not take Covid-19 seriously until America became the epicenter of the disease.

And until today, Trump has never appeared in public with a mask.

In Latin America, Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has behaved worse than the man he admires most, Donald Trump.

He has dismissed Covid-19 and urged Brazil’s states to keep their economics open. Today, Brazil is second to the US in terms of infections and most obsevers predict that Brazil will soon become the next Covid-19 epicentre.

This is in sharp contrast with the leaders of China and most countries in Europe who asked their people to wear masks, wash hands with soap, and observe social and physical distancing in public.

In countries where leaders lead by example, the Covid-19 cases have been managed with New Zealand reporting almost zero new cases in two months. In China, Italy, Spain, Britain, and France the situation is improving, partly due to the commitment and exemplary behaviour of the countries’ leaders.

In Africa, more than 260 000 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed and over 7 000 deaths recorded. Observers indicate that had President Cyril Ramaphosa behaved like Trump or Bolsonaro, the number of cases in South Africa would have been much higher.

In Malawi, the number cases has risen astronomically since May 2020 when official political campaigns intensified and Malawi welcomed its citizens that had been stranded in South Africa.

Most of the returnees, some of whom tested and confirmed as coronavirus positive, bolted from their places of quarantine and are now mingling with the general populace.

As one medical doctor warned, Malawi is sitting on a Covid-19 time bomb. We have been so laid back and dismissive of the disease as if God created us in special way. Political leaders are the worst culprits. Some have openly told the public that Covid-19 is a fluke. President Mutharika has not demonstrated the expected leadership. Apart from reading statements about the gravity of Covid-19, he has scarcely been seen with a mask in public.

For example, during the nomination paper presentation ceremony in Blantyre, President Mutharika distinguished himself as the Covid-19 denialist par excellence in the line of Donald Trump and Bolsonaro. The other candidates wore masks. But he walked into the room wearing no mask. His dearest professor wife wore no mask either. The message he was sending to the public was that, indeed, Covid-19 was not a medical threat to Malawians and as president, he was insulated.

Similar attitudes led to the decimation of the Malawi population in the early years of HIV and Aids. The State hid information about HIV for a long time. This State irresponsibility, compounded by our fatalistic religious and cultural beliefs, impacted heavily on Malawi’s economy as many young people, the engine of a smallholder agriculture economy, died. Had it not been for the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) which made Aids medicine readily available to Africa, Malawi included, our graveyards would have been full by now.

Our political leaders, particularly the State President, should lead by example in the fight against Covid-19. The president should be practicing what he preaches. Some of us will not hesitate to blame him ‘fairly and squarely’ if the Covvid-19 situation in Malawi aggravates.

On Tuesday 23 June 2020, go ye all and vote wisely and conscientiously but remember to wear a mask, wash hands regularly with soap or use a recommended hand sanitiser and maintain social and physical distance on the voting queues.

See you at the presidential swearing-in ceremony.

Previous Post

IMF tips treasury on debt

Next Post

Accept election results

Related Posts

Bottom Up

Thanks Team Onjezani Kenani; our turn now

January 23, 2021
Chilembwe and his wife IdahGondwe: There is darkness
Bottom Up

For 20 Pounds John Chilembwe was betrayed

January 16, 2021
Bottom Up

Local expertise can generate Covid-19 vaccine demand

January 2, 2021
Next Post
Pali mkokemkoke pa za tsiku limene Amalawi angadzaponyenso voti

Accept election results

Trending Stories

  • Not yet given retirement benefits: Mutharika

    Tonse faulted on former presidents’ benefits

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • High-profile official angered Wirima to quit

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Malawi vs Uganda.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Wasteful Chakwera

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Legendary Patani Mwase remembered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Opinions and Columns

Bottom Up

Thanks Team Onjezani Kenani; our turn now

January 23, 2021
My Thought

Cloud hangs on Mtambo’s head

January 23, 2021
Off the Shelf

Goodbye Trump, you were a joke

January 23, 2021
Back Bencher

Chakwera’s ‘politics’ rant was in bad taste

January 23, 2021
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.