The temptation is too high

 As the world continues to grapple with the global novel coronavirus pandemic the human race continues to get exposed in multiple fronts.

The economic resilience of many societies and nations has been tested at various levels. The effectiveness of health systems has also been stretched to the maximum. Another dimension from which this fight has been heavily challenged is sustaining coordinated efforts to win this battle.

From the onset of the pandemic it was almost predictable that Malawi as a country will fall prey to the first two vices as highlighted above. But now the country is having to face another devil. We have been exposed again with our failure to maintain a uniformed approach in our response to the disease.

Within the same line of precautionary measures that were prescribed by the government, one thing is applicable to A and prohibited to B. That is proving to be our biggest undoing. Now we have found ourselves shrouded in some unresolved puzzle.

When the precautionary measures were first announced the first group to feel the pinch were players from the arts and entertainment industry. Barring people from congregating in numbers exceeding 100 at once meant no public performance of any sort was realistically possible.

Just like that the whole industry was sent to bed. Their grumbling and moaning has been loud ever since. Considering that the rope which linked them with their source of income had been unexpectedly cut, they have everyone’s sympathy. But what else can you do when you are faced with a lethal pandemic as Covid-19?

But the surroundings have taken a new complexion all thanks to the approaching fresh elections which the country is expected to hold. Politicians from both divides have gone full throttle on their campaign trail in their quest to woo votes.

Almost on a daily basis the country is witnessing public political rallies which are attracting thousands of people without any apparent regard to the coronavirus threat. It is like the political undertakings have been certified immune towards the disease while life in other sectors remains on hold.

Alarms have been raised from elsewhere and musicians too have not let the situation lie down. Under the banner of concerned active musicians, the group told members of the press in Lilongwe on Tuesday of their disgust at the selective approach that has been adopted in as far the national response to Covid-19 is concerned.

The group has gone further to state their intention to resume holding live music performances as soon as possible. If the political leadership is in the fore front of breaching the set recommendations then who are we? Their argument is that simple.

On the other hand, here is an industry whose potential has been squeezed to almost zero and on the other the threat of pandemic whose preventive measures are not being followed by all. I should admit the temptation is too high for the musicians.

These people have got families to support and any reasonable person should sympathise with their ordeal. The worst we can do is to make them the sole face of our lazy efforts to fight this pandemic.

If we are to suffer, let us suffer together. If another section of the populace has taken the careless approach then what should prevent others from doing the same? As a country we are facing a very big danger if the status quo continues to prevail.

What is clear is that the recommendations which were laid needed to go with some enabling legislative clauses as an enforcing mechanism. As the situation is the recommendations are operating in a vacuum and it is with little wonder that everyone is stepping on them as per their gains.

But the fight against this disease is down to oneself at the end of the day. Everyone is at liberty to decide what suits him best and do accordingly. But again like I said, the temptation is just too high for the local creatives