Wednesday, January 27, 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 News National News

DPP ignores Covid-19 measures at rallies

by John Chirwa
04/05/2020
in National News
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the weekend defied measures such as a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people President Peter Mutharika announced to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

During a political rally at Chibavi Primary School ground in Mzuzu on Friday, more than 100 party supporters were seen gathered without observing physical or social distancing as prescribed by the World Heal th Organisat ion (WHO). The meeting was meant to welcome about 200 youths alleged to have defected from other political parties.

RelatedHeadlines

Donors up game in Covid-19 fight

Minibus drivers, conductors stage another protest

January tops Covid-19 deaths

In attendance were several high-ranking DPP officials, including the party’s vice-president (North) and presidential aide Goodall Gondwe, regional governor (North) Christopher Mzomera Ngwira and Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Kamlepo Kalua.

When contacted yesterday on why the DPP is defying government’s policy on limiting public gatherings in the wake of Covid-19, DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi asked for more time to find out about the issue.

“Let me find out,” he said briefly. Ironically, Dausi was a member of the recently dissolved Special Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus which announced some of the precautionary measures.

Gondwe | The Nation Online
Gondwe washes his hands on arrival at the rally as Ngwira
waits for a turn

But while the crowd exceeded the prescribed maximum of 100, Ngwira said the party is observing all Covid-19 preventive measures.

“We have observed physical/social distancing measures by sitting at least a metre away targeting DPP members. election demonstrations, mostly

“We have changed our name from Isweke Isweke to DPP comrades. We will be working with DPP and do acts of charity such as cleaning our streets and supporting development policies of the DPP,” he said.

Gondwe said the party has forgiven and welcomed back the youth into the party. Commenting on the DPP rallies, political commentator George Phiri said the governing party should be leading by example in observing Covid-19 preventive measures.

He said: “They need to be exemplary because we all know this is a DPP-led government and the police are an arm of government. They [police] cannot be chasing people away from churches while letting DPP hold large public gatherings.”

In his10-paged address titled Remarks by the Right Honourable State Vice-President of the Republic of Malawi on the National Situation and Response to Covid-19, the country’s estranged Vice-President Saulos Chilima—who fell out with President Peter Mutharika and quit DPP in June 2018 to form UTM Party and challenged his political mentor in the disputed May 21 2019 presidential election—also faulted some Cabinet ministers for allegedly holding campaign rallies with hundreds of people in contravention of social distancing measures championed by Ministry of Health as a Covid-19 precautionary measure

Previous Post

UTM Party vehicle torched in Balaka

Next Post

Covid-19 puts parties in campaign fix

Related Posts

Pledged to review Cabinet: Chakwera
National News

Donors up game in Covid-19 fight

January 27, 2021
Part of the chaotic scenes during Tuesday's protest
National News

Minibus drivers, conductors stage another protest

January 27, 2021
covid death | The Nation Online
National News

January tops Covid-19 deaths

January 27, 2021
Next Post
Ansah: Sindikuchoka poopa zionetsero

Covid-19 puts parties in campaign fix

Trending Stories

  • Mlusu presents the budget in this file photo

    Budget off rails

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SA returnees in forced quarantine

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New mashup draws mixed reactions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Donors up game in Covid-19 fight

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Spread hope not fear

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Opinions and Columns

My Turn

When schools become inaccessible, a glimmer of hope in a coding boot-camp

January 27, 2021
My Turn

Behaviour change key in Covid-19 fight

January 25, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Citizens power brings change

January 24, 2021
Search Within

The rural farmer needs to take centre stage

January 24, 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.