Political parties continue to hold rallies, amid spike in Covid-19 cases
As cases of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, continue to rise sharply across the globe, Malawi's major political parties have risen from some unknown slumber and started holding mass rallies.
MALAWI: As cases of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, continue to rise sharply across the globe, Malawi's major political parties have risen from some unknown slumber and started holding mass political rallies.
This comes amid calls by health authorities for people to exercise social distancing to prevent the spread of the variant.
Just last week, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) held a mass rally at Masintha Ground in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, just a few days after the Ministry of Health announced that the new covid-19 variant, Omicron, had been detected in the country.
Speaking at a media briefing, Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, said the variant had been detected in some three people and urged Malawians to continue to observe all the preventive measures against the pandemic.
Meanwhile, recent reports indicate that the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is also set to hold a rally at Blantyre's Njamba Freedom Park this Sunday.
According to the DPP’s Regional Governor for the South, Charles Mchacha, the party's leader, former President Arthur Peter Mutharika, together with United Democratic Front's leader, Atupele Muluzi, will address supporters of the two parties at the rally.
Mchacha discloses that the party met with all of its parliamentarians from the South on Monday, where it was agreed that the two leaders hold the meeting to among other things, give hope to Malawians who he said are facing tough economic times.
Mchacha told AfricaBrief that the DPP will put in place all Covid-19 preventive measures to ensure that people are protected.
“We have put in place strict measures which people are expected to follow when coming to the rally,” he said.
“We will put handwashing basins in strategic places, hand out face masks to all people who will come without wearing one. We are also discussing inviting health authorities to come and give covid vaccines to those who would have not received the jab.”
The DPP RG said although cases of Covid-19 are on the rise, the party will be strict on adherence to the measures.
The political rallies come at a time when prices of most basic commodities are on the increase, with the government saying it will soon put in place a strategy on how to bail Malawians out of the financial quagmire.
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