The enemy within
It is not how we imagined any longer. It is not how we thought things would be. The Covid-19 monster is real and it is very close to us, tearing apart the fabric that holds us together.
For many, despite the informative aspect that social media plays, we take the space as a platform to unwind, share and learn new ideas in a relaxed manner. It is a place which helps transform your mood by picking up one or two fun tales that people share every now and again.
But once you are browsing through social media spaces nowadays, you are just filled with sorrow emanating from the sad stories that people across the country continue to share daily, all bordering on Covid-19.
The disease has sunk its thick teeth ruthlessly everywhere. No sector has been spared from the Covid-19 bite. Families, societies and both personal and professional relationships have endured such a stern test. We are being torn apart.
The local art and entertainment world dropped its first tear few weeks ago when Covid-19 pierced through its thrust and plucked away the country’s veteran musician and radio personality Maria Chidzanja-Nkhoma.
For everything that she represented and contributed, she was an example to many who admired her art. This was one loss too hard to contend with and comprehend. But Covid-19 walked through and left us with that bitter after-taste dose.
Before the artistic tears dried, another devastating blow landed on the industry. Malawi’s music giant Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire succumbed to Covid-19 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
Disbelief engulfed the industry and all followers of his art. Questions among the populace lingered as who is next. People tried to ease the pain by replaying his jazz thoughtful melodies at every opportunity, but the effort was not enough, Mte was gone.
It has been a while since Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information, adorned his poetic lobes. Maybe due to pressure of work and other business interests, Kazako has for long put his poetry prowess at bay.
But the death of Wambali jerked that part of him back into life. Within hours of the announcement of his death, we saw a poem in tribute to Wambali done by Kazako circulating. Minus the touching and sorrowful message, it was nice to hear from Kazako the poet once more.
As if those two losses were not enough, thunder was to strike for the third time on the industry. Vibrant radio personality and actress Juliet Royo- Chikweba departed among us courtesy of the same monster.
It was sad to see the life of a young and innovative young mind come to a stop in such a sad fashion. Once again the industry had been shamed with the sting delivered by this pandemic. The dark cloud cover brought by Covid-19 seems to be stuck with us.
We may have errored in our previous approach to the pandemic, and we need to take full responsibility for our mis-actions on the same. Some may stand here and point at what we did wrong, actions that have contributed to get us where we are.
But, as we speak, since can we can still breathe, there is a huge role that we can play in order cushion the impact of this pandemic and help save a soul or two. It is not yet a hopeless situation. There is still more we can do to win this war.
Examples to draw inspiration from are abound. Yes! The enemy is within but we should not give up. Let us continue to observe the Covid-19 precautionary measures such as physical distancing, sanitising and masking up.
To quote Kazako’s poem: “Sikale pamene tonse tidzatonthole. Kutonthola kogwirana manja, kukumbatirana, ndikuchitira nkhumaliro limodzi. Mkumavina. Izizi, zitha. Izizi zigonja. Izizi tipambana. Izizi zikhala mbiri chabe. Mbiri yomayikamba osamvetsetseka. Koma izizi, zitha…
