MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI) on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 implored President Peter Mutharika, to consider reversing the 21 day national lockdown, saying the decision disfavours the majority of Malawians who are too poor to sustain themselves during the lockdown.
In a press statement released and signed by CDEDI’s Acting Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa, the Organisation feels through his national address on Tuesday, President Mutharika gave an impression of a leader who either does not understand the welfare or social economic status of Malawians or does not care at all.
“CDEDI would like to draw President Mutharika’s attention to the latest National Statistical Office (NSO) January 2019 Malawi Poverty Report. According to this report, over 51. 5 percent of Malawians live in poverty while 20.1 percent are living in ultra poverty.
“While commending Mutharika for taking a leading role in trying to contain further spread of Covid 19 pandemic, CDEDI finds the lockdown which has no safety nets for the majority poor Malawians as running counter to the citizen’s right to food and life,” reads the statement partly.
CDEDI has also expressed shock that ever since the government started to implement various measures to combat the disease, President Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have not consulted far and wide with major stakeholders such as business captains, opposition leaders, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), members of the academia and even traditional leaders on how to collectively confront the common enemy.
CDEDI has therefore appealed to President Mutharika to suspend the lockdown and do some consultations, else it will mobilise the citizens to disobey the presidential order through gathering at their respective district councils and pressuring the government.
On Tuesday, President Arthur Peter Mutharika, through the public broadcasters, MBC TV and MBC Radios 1 and 2, announced a 21 national lockdown effective April 18 through 9 May, 2020, as a new measure to prevent the spread of Covid 19.
As of April 14, 2020 Malawi had 16 COVID-19 cases with two deaths.
