Chilima censured on ‘hug’ remarks: ‘Malawi VP should not be a Covidiot’
Vice-President Saulos Chilima has been censured over his remarks on that it is safe for members of the opposition Tonse Alliance to hug each other and not contract infectious diseases, contrary to health advice on novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
“If you see someone wearing MCP or UTM or PP regalia, hug them, you can’t infect each other with disease,” said the country’s estranged Vice-President in a televised political campaign rally on Sunday.
Chilima, who is UTM Party president and running mate to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera, was speaking when he addressed Tonse Alliance rally at Likuni Boys Secondary School ground in Lilongwe.
But health commentators cautioned that the message was wrong, stressing that basic infection control measures in the wake of coronavirus means social distancing, practise good hygiene.
A celebrated writer and commentator Stanley Onjezani Kenani writing on his Facebook said coronavirus is real and political leaders need to take lead in encouraging their supporters to adhere to practices that can reduce or impede its spread.
“It was also contrary to the advice the Vice President gave Malawians in a video clip he released end February, urging people to wash hands, avoid close contact and touching their faces.
“That (the February video) was the correct path he took, and he would do well to stay on it,” wrote Kenani.
He, nonetheless, urged political supporters not to regard political leaders as incapable of making mistakes.
“They are human, and we would help them by pointing out the mistakes they make. Only that way can we build a better Malawi,” he added.
Health commentators have urged Chilima to revisit his message on Covid-19 on people hugging rest he be Covidiot – a person who can’t quite grasp the measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Malawi has so far recorded 70 cases of the virus pandemic since the first case was reported on April 2 2020.
Giving a status update to the media in Mzuzu on Sunday evening Minister of Health Jappie Mhango said five new cases have been recorded.
They comprise two each in Blantyre and Lilongwe and one in Zomba.
Mhango said Malawi has so far tested 1 841 samples with 70 confirmed cases and 17 pending results.
Of the 70, three died, 27 have recovered and 40 are still under the management of healthcare workers, but are stable, according to the Minister.
With the new cases, Lilongwe remains the hot spot with 28, Blantyre 18, Thyolo nine cases and NkhataBay five.
On the other hand, Mzuzu has three cases, Zomba two and one each in Chikwawa, Nkhotakota, Karonga, Mangochi and Mulanje.
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Chilima you take yourself as intelligent koma nzeru mulibe and tell your Kaliati to start making hand sanitizer from soda
Chilima amazitenga ngati wanzeru kwambiri koma ayi ndithu and tell your Kaliati apange hand senitizer from soda
Chilima is an idiot like US president Donald Trump. He did not believe in Corona-virus, now his country is suffering with high infections and deaths.
Chati deru, chadodometsa mlenje. Chilima watutumuka ndi Atupele – calm and humble young man. No pomp, just normal man.
CHILIMA ali ndi vuto ndithu lamu ubongo
musamuone chifukwa ali ndi ndalama
kapena maphunzilo
Ndinzake wa VINCENT WANDALE
Pofunika amuitane mzakeyo ku UTM
Atupele dosage yamubayizitsa mutu munthuyu. Akuthakuona Atupele ali muofesi ya VP. Mutu sukugwira. Things fall apart
odzudzulawo nngombwambwanaso eti. misonkhano yonseyi mwati mumudzudzule hug. kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
So this is the Guy u expect to change Malawi? Change my foot. The whole Vice President of a Country shamelessly urged folks to hug each other coz they can’t get Covid? Really? live on Social media ? For real? Mavuto alipo . No wonder he has Bn in govt for over 5 yrs but hasn’t accomplished a single thing.
CHILIMA’S SPEECH IS QUITE CORRECT AND YOU HEALTH PEOPLE KANGODYANI NDALAMA ZA NKHANI NKHANI ZO ZIMENE MWALANDIRAO ZA SIWA. when Atupele said the same words at Mangochi where I met him you did not alter any word shupiti inu azachipatala mwamva. Atupele akuti kampeni anthu thithithi no space and you did not speak, Mufa ndinu?
OSASIYA CHILIMA DO IT AGAIN IN LOWER STATES.
Kusuta Fodya abambo awa kuwapetetsa. Akamapita ku Msonkhano amasuta chamba ndi kumwa mowa ati kuchotsa manyazi. MCP inana kale kuti MFANA TIMUDODA UYU. Sangakhale torch bearer wa Tonse ALLIANCE with only 4 MPS . lero ndi zimenezi. Matama onse aja atha tsopano. ankatitsanzika kwa KAUMA kuti akupita ku State House lero akuchitira kampeni anzao a MCP. Akudoda mfana . MCP said they want to use UTM to ascend to power and thereafter dump you. iwo anati wa Pa Keliyala saimba belu. With only 4 MPS you could not become a torch bearer. I felt sorry on the day of presentation of nomination papers the guy looked confused and ashamed. After the ceremony UTM members even forgot to collect tei nsalu pa tebulo ya MEC. They were disappointed kuti akulu aja has been brought to his knees
Che Mulopwana it’s you who is on chamba. You know Chilima is better than you and your DPP idiots. Leave him alone
Too much chamba and self-importance is what is destroying Chilima.
Chilima has always been over-rated. He is an over pompous idiot.
Why are pipo creating corona on other pipo?we know it’s a political gimmick to create fear in Malawians but No we will not be afraid.The problems we have with the DPP are more dangerous than the so called covid19 which is just enriching politicians.We have evidence pipo are not sick but money being stolen
CHANGE is near galamukani ablue inu.
Anazigwra a Court 12 Dzakuba dza DPP ndi Muluzi Snr K1.7B YATHU
Chamba plus mowa ukaphatikiza ndi zimenezi
People should were MASKS in public places please
Abakha musamangotukwana kod ku misonkhano yanu yomwe baby uja akupangisa kukumakhala social distance? So why accusing the VP
Chilima was true because in all political rallies you can not find any so called social distance. So why accusing him. Apart from that there is an interesting story that empty coffins are being burried in the name of covid-19 deaths
Wanga, these are you own opinions and stop being a fool!
You are the second stupid reporter for Nyasa Times
Anthu angt akufa ndi malaria since Apr? Sinamveko kt a minister akunena za malungo cfk kulibeko $ koma covid19 eeesh. Kufa anthu atatu tili ndi mwai kwambiri pomwe anzathu 2000 deaths within 24 hrs.
Can someone answer this one question? Why is the number of infected persons rising while the number of deaths remain at 3? Are we better on treatment than the USA, Italy and United Kingdom? I put it to you kuti the three who died did not die from the Corona Virus.
Did you want more death bwana Stain Phiri?
did u understand his question?????
Very good question; but another interesting question is; what is the physical distance when using mask and without mask? is it the same or different?
Ok poti anzeru ndi inu. If you think it’s gaping everywhere in the world just to spare Malawi. We are living like idiots and soon we will also die like idiots
Are we seriously worried by a hug than worried that politicians are conducting these without any social distance. Will a hug make any difference. Thar remark was out of place, but all what all these politicians are doing is wrong. before censuring the hug remark, censure the meetings they are conducting
This was just a joke,nothing to be taken seriously….mwatani kodi ma cadet,can’t someone the type of chilima throw a joke…?
These are shop ship shop remarks of an over enthusiastic speaker. He definitely did not mean it. Or did you see him hug anyone at the rally, maybe except his wife?
they dont hav brains to understand Chilima
It is Chilima who has no brains. He can’t be joking about a serious disease like COVID.
Was it a gaffe or poor judgement on the part of the VP. If not a gaffe then he has a serious problem and government running is no child’s play. It better to react slowly than quick reaction which is suicidical in nature as the advice from Malawi’s No 2
Dumb comment Malawians do not hug or show emotions in public.
Likely Chilima wished we all should get along together without violence.
Such advice coming from SKC is self-defeating, if he indeed said that. A chunk of his supporters will be dead by the voting date if he ain’t careful!
He seems to be an intelligent and articulate young man, so I am a bit reluctant to believe that he uttered such nonsense. This is the type of shit one expects from riff-raff like Bakili.
iwe ngombwax ndi mbuzi eti moti sunave chitsilu chakocho kuti chinayankhula choncho ku likuni ? ufunse zinyau zinzako zikuuza poti ukuoneka kuti ulibe wireless or tv..you are a covidiot like chilima.mapwala anu nonse
there is already huggs happening on the ground to all congregants for the rallies be it of dpp, utm whatever, za social distance ndi zero, so dont point fingures here suckers
It’s the stupid comment he made
Chilima has been talking trash since the nomination day.
Mukuva pheeeiiiin heavy simunati …SKC akuyabwani simunati
Pajatu uyu ndi Zeze samaganiza
This virus is too slow. For my liking.