AG Chakaka Nyirenda given 14 days to declare Govt’s position on mandatory vaccination
Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has no room for relaxation at his new job as Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has given him 14 days to declare the government’s position on mandatory Covid-19 vaccination.
CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa contends that the legal advice on the silently introduced and implemented ‘NO VACCINE, NO WORK POLICY’ of containing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic runs counter to the ‘voluntary vaccination’, which the Minister of Health and Population, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, has been preaching all along.
Namiwa has since penned Nyirenda, demanding that he should make clear the government’s position on the matter.
“You are coming into this high office at a time when debate is raging on what could best be described as a silent government policy of ‘NO VACCINE NO WORK POLICY’ in the country. Both the public and private institutions are currently outclassing each other, by imposing mandatory Covid-19 testing and vaccination, contrary to what the Minister of Health Hon. Khumbizie Kandodo-Chiponda told the nation, when announcing plans to roll out the vaccination campaign, that the exercise was voluntary. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO’s) position is very clear; that the Covid-19 vaccine is voluntary,” reads the letter, which is dated 9 September 2021.
Namiwa claims that since private and public institutions started implementing the ‘NO VACCINE NO WORK POLICY,’ some people have lost jobs while others have been forced to reveal their medical conditions to their employers in an attempt to be saved from the mandatory exercise.
He adds that scores of others have lost business opportunities thereby depriving them of their right to economic activities.
“Most importantly, the majority have been forced to act contrary to their conscience, religion, belief and thought, in a quest to save the only source of survival for their families. What is particularly more disturbing is the silence on the part of the Malawi Government, despite CDEDI formally writing the minister responsible, with a copy to the Covid-19 Taskforce,” says Namiwa in the letter.
“You may agree with us that some citizens can choose life and go for the vaccine, while others can also choose life by deciding not to get inoculated. Government, however, has the final say on this matter! It is against this background, therefore, that CDEDI is again challenging the government, through your office sir, to come out very clearly, on whether or not the Tonse Alliance administration has changed on its earlier position on the Covid-19 voluntary testing and vaccination. Nonetheless, the health minister’s silence on the matter is enough revelation that the government has silently given the nod for Covid-19 mandatory testing and vaccination.”
Namiwa says CDEDI believes that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is running a transparent and accountable government with the welfare of Malawians at heart, and in line with both the spirit and principle of Section 12 of the Republican Constitution.
He says it is therefore prudent and fair that those in positions of authority should be very open, clear and consistent on any policy changes, as long as it is done in good faith and in the best interest of the people of Malawi.
“That is the only sure way to earn and sustain the trust of the people. Having reached this far, CDEDI is, therefore, giving you, sir, fourteen (14) days to act on the concern raised in this letter, which is a true reflection of the situation on the ground,” thus Namiwa ends his epistle to the AG.
Nyasa Times could not immediately reach AG Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda for his comment.
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I salute you cded, since I knew you this is better argument you have made. No one should not be forced for vaccination, if am fearing death I should be the one to be vaccinated so that I should not get covid 19 from someone who hasn’t been vaccinated. I should not offend someone’s health rights by forcing them to get jab. Omwe tikuopa imfa tiyeni tikabayitse, imweso asungitsa moyo ku God’s Kingdom asiyeni don’t force them, zabwino saitanilana kalipo kalipo.
This Namiwa guy is just a pain in the butt. He protests EVERYTHING; even measures aimed at keeping people safe. Saying you should not come to work if you are not vaccinated is NOT the same as forcing people to get vaccinated. What it means is that if you really feel strongly against get vaccinated, then you should accept to stay at home to avoid the risk of infecting other people. Your right is therefore respected. You’re simply being asked to also respect the rights of fellow employees not to be put at an unnecessary risk of getting infected, since the vaccine does not offer 100% protection.
Why is Namiwa just focused on work and not travel and other areas?? Currently Namiwa cannot get outside our borders without showing proof of a negative Covid test and/or proof of being fully vaccinated. This is internationally accepted. Why is this ok; yet the same thing is not ok in the workplace? Rights are not absolute. If you insist on one right, then accept limitations on other rights.
In many countries in the developed world you cannot now go to restaurants, the cinema or some shops if you are not fully vaccinated. You may protest all you want, but this is the new normal: Insist on your right to not get vaccinated, but accept that your movements will rightly be limited to protect those who have decided to get vaccinated.
If Govt officials start giving Namiwa even the slightest attention, he will not stop his time wasting antics. Just ignore him…he will find another thing to protest about
Who does Cadet Sylvester Namiwa think he is. Always giving Government ultimatums and directives. Does he think Government will waste time with his bitterness over DPP’s loss of Presidency? Accept reality
With due respect Mr. Namiwa and your group, I feel that you are amplifying a not important issue here; maybe you cannot differentiate between a law and a policy. In a very simple explanation: a law tends to bind entities, while a policy is a guideline/recommendation. Using an example, there is a law against theft which binds everybody in the Malawian Republic; on the other hand, we have the 4 children per family as a Population Policy in Malawi. You see now, anyone who has stolen can be prosecuted; but can we prosecute a family head who has more than 4 children? In other words, a policy is more of a recommendation which should not be legally binding. Anyway is it gazetted anywhere that nobody should be forced to take the Covid 19 vaccine? I hope it only says, it is voluntary; but is it everywhere? In the same vein, we have some religion(s) which stop their members from taking any form of medication, should government just watch these members die of curable diseases in order to respect their right to choice of life? I mean, even completely wrong choices? If we can take that route, then we can as well watch people commit suicide and do nothing; because they are taking away their own lives. Interestingly though, you want the government to decide for the private institutions on their health policies, are you not in a way suggesting dictatorship on this vaccine matter? I am afraid, if government grants what Mr. Namiwa and the crew are advocating for, we will have people who will opt not to be taking medication and the rest of the vaccines in the country, that surely would spell out anarchy. Let organisations do what they feel is right, so long as it does not violate our laws and government should not try to run the private organisations on their behalf. These are solely my views.
Your Excellency The Malawi President,please decrare,The vaccine must be compulsoly to each and everyone 18&above.
As such sulome convisld restrictions will be eased for sure.
Stupid few will oppose,call you names ignore them because the majority will salute&stand@attention…
Please,act to somevsensive issues,like,coblvid fund misappropriated.
Concerned,
Mzakwacha Nixon
KwaZulu NaTaL
+27724922299
+27731440799
[email protected]
What has AG got to do with medical issues? Maybe we should seek to appoint a Surgeon General, who would be more apt to respond to such issues.
Wayambilaso