Peter Mutharika has been president of Malawi for over five years, but last night might have been the first time he was indisputably presidential as he was addressing the nation on covid-19. As we are all aware, Coronavirus continues to ravage the world with a consistent nondiscriminatory principle; no one is spared. It is a time that presidents across the world are busy in their offices to amass weapons to combat the deadly virus.
Back home, only four cases have been registered so far but President Mutharika has been vigilant on ground-zero even before the virus found its way into the country. Several measures were put in place before registering any case, but having recorded four cases, Mutharika last night demonstrated that he hasn’t extinguished all independent instinct and intelligent in him.
The measures that he outlined were purely for the betterment of the citizens; not cadets, Charles Mchacha or Norman Chisale. Some of the measures put in place include recruiting 2000 workers and increasing their risk allowances, reducing fuel, and decongesting prisons.
Mutharika has also instructed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to implement a win-win arrangement with commercial banks and Micro-Finance Institutions to observe a three-month moratorium on interest and principal repayments for all loans contracted by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Now, as you are driving in the streets of Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu after fueling your car at an unexpected low price would please spare time and join me in giving a standing ovation the professor of law. Nice job, Mr. President! You deserve recommendation for the way you have handled the covid-19 pandemic. I, salute you, for rising to the occasion despite harsh criticisms from the very people whose healthy you are working so hard to secure.
As we go forward, ignore partisan politics as you have already demonstrated. Continue reminding us that “An attack on one of us is an attack on us all.”
views expressed in this article are those of the author
