Chilima readies coherent strategy for Malawi to combat Covid-19

January 13, 2021 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 41 Comments

After President Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday proclaimed a state of national disaster and directed that the country’s second-in-command Saulos  Chilima leads a ministerial task-team to review Covid-19 guidelines in order to respond effectively to the pandemic, the vice-president hit the ground on Wednesday by chairing a first meeting with the Ministers in Lilongwe to work on coherent strategy.

Chilima being checked his temperature: It’s OK
Let’s go to work: Chilima arriving
Ministers standing as SKC walks in at 1;55pm for the 2 pm meeting
Can we get started please?: Chilima at the meeting
Meeting getting underway, social distance fully observed

Present at the meeting at the Bingu international Conference Centre (BICC) auditorium, were the Ministers for Health, Homeland Security, Education, Civic Education, Local Government, Justice and Information.

The ministerial special team that the Vice President is leading is expected to review and recommend the new guidelines to Presidential Task Force for implementation in a bid to effectively respond to the pandemic that has killed over 10 people this year alone including Local Government Minister Lingson Belekanyama  and Transport and Public Works Minister Mohamed Sidik Mia .

During a national address on Tuesday, President Chakwera directed that the ministries of Health, Homeland Security, Education, Civic Education, Local Government, Justice and Information to work together with the Office of the Vice President to review Covid-19 guidelines and recommend any amendments to be made to the guidelines.

Chakwera  hinted that he was prepared to take the extraordinary step of declaring a State of Emergency subject to approval by the Defence and Security Committee of Parliament when he would direct the military to impose a curfew.

Meanwhile, Chilima has bemoaned the death of his two Tonse Alliance Cabinet colleagues, saying “the country has lost great leaders”.

Other prominent  personalities who have succumbed to Covid-19 include Traditional Authority Njolomole of Ntcheu, veteran broadcaster Maria Chidzanja Nkhoma, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information Ernest Kantchentche, two Mzuzu university professors and other leaders over the past two weeks.

Malawi is currently observing three days of national mourning and  Chakwera ordered that national flags fly at half-staff.

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41 replies on “Chilima readies coherent strategy for Malawi to combat Covid-19”

  1. Baby chilima told us to keep hugging coz there is no covid-19. We are still waiting for him to come and tell us that covid-19 is real and to stop hugging. Apo bii apepese kaye Arafat Hamdan wanuyu. And where is the strategy for 1 million jobs?

  2. How can someone who doesn’t believe Covid exists lead the fight against the same? Dzuka Malawi Dzuka.
    Our hospitals have no PPEs while Ministers and other Govt officials are busy buying and driving super expensive cars. Jehena ili pansi pompano ndithu. Nokha alliance itithandiza koma?

  3. Allowances and hotel expenses could have used to purchase Covid-19 testing kits .
    Leaders, please change the way we do thing. Why can not you go for virsual meetings

  4. Lazaro decision making is poor. You want baby Chilima to lead the covid-19 fight, is he not the same person who was telling malawians there is no covid-19. A couple of mofos leading this country to poverty and death. I pitty the fools amapita kunzue, mwaonatu, uchitsilu wanu wabweletsa

  5. Mr President have lost the plot? How can you appoint someone so heartless who once said Corona kulibe anthu amayamba kufa kaye then that is when you can have the numbers.

    You will regret this.This guy and JB have to apologise to the entire nation snd have to show remorse to the families that have lost loved ones through Covid-19.
    We are where we are because of the greed of these guys ndi anzawo a HRDC.

    2. Don’t blame Chilima, this virus is all over the world, I understand your hate for Chilima it’s not about the Virus but DPP loss to govern.

      It’s a bitter pill for Cadets to accept the loss but don’t worry by and by u will come to your senses and realise that DPP it’s in opposition .

      Even when u dumped UDF after propelling Bingu to power, the UDF Youth felt the same pain but turn to accept it .

      So my advise to Cadets is that u need to accept it that its Tonse Alliance in government and not DPP anymore otherwise with this Covid thing not good to develop BP coz of politics . 5years it’s not a joke.

      1. Iwe nkape ndithu zugwirizana chani . Dont u see kuti only pple with polutjcal posituons sre the onez being announced dead while thousands wuthout political nzmes are dying in ths same public hosipitals ena oti sangakwanitse kufika ku chipatala they are just dying

    3. My friend ,i think you are really cadet ,how can u say this , you want someone to apologise to for what ? or what good have you done so that the Chilima apologise to you? this wont happen , despite of covid19 Tonse alliance is on lead sailing the government

  8. I think Malawian politicians are just perpetually selfish.

    Inu, there are so many things that could’ve been easily been implemented before things got out of hand. But I guess you were trying to sniff for your personal opportunities on this first.

    Komasotu, even now, there are so many things that can be implemented immediately and don’t need to wait for any meetings of the so called task force. You can set a few things in place now – but I guess you want to wait for the meetings coz that’s an opportunity for allowances.

    1. I have personally met the so called task force they are just a group of morons who knows nothing and all they sre interestes in is to collect teavel allowances
      No clue at all.

  10. If you really have to meet physically, please meet at State House, Mntunthama, Capitol Hill, or any govt facility where you will not pay. Why do you have to meet at BICC all the time? Spending tax money unnecessarily when boma lili ndi ma facilities okwana. Mumadyapo kapena?

    2. I second you chief only on this issue ,really, we have alot of government facilities that can be used why always going for paid facilities ,why? misonkho yathu mayooooo

  11. Kodi simukantha kupanga zoom meeting pliz chonde. This should be avoided at all costs. Matendawa afika povuta tapotananu pliz. Lead by example. This is 21st century for Christ sake. Use technology pliz chonde

  12. The president was busy flying around and meeting people like Madonna unnecessary without masks and not following corona WHO guidelines. Lero nde mukuti chani? Just because ur fellow ministers have died? How about the poor unknown Malawians u killed with ur stupidity?

  13. Too late.UN and SADC meetings were being done on line ephasizing the movement restrictions.What have we seen during the past 6 moths.The president Flying around all the dangerous counties with all the minister etc. carelessly .

  15. Chilima for sure Chakwera has given you a poisoned chalice. Covid is a killer and unfortunately without extensive preventive measure and a well funded vaccination programme, Covid will continue to kill. You will be considered a failure whatever you do that is for sure. Chakwera is a true Machevellian, he is out to neutralise your arrogance and pride. by the way the lock on your briefcase is open!!!!

    2. 🔓🤔

      You are fit to be a detective and the 🇲🇼 government needs to hire you – that’s my taking.

    3. His position is delegated as VP of Malawi, mumafuna asamawire ntchito azingolandira ngati zinalili mbuyomu kuti mudziyankhulanso kuti VP sakumupatsa vepi?

      1. He is the same person who told Malawians and the entire world that there is no coronavirus in Malawi.He should apologise first

        1. We already forgave him. So, no need to apologise. If you want him to apologise personally to you, please send him your number

  16. Kkkkk owooo kodi covid alipo tsopano eti? Kodi bwanawa si aja amati covid kulibe APM amanama bcecause he didi not want fresh elections in 2020? Eeeeeh bwana SKC apologise to Malawians bcoz many took your words likewise madam JB my former President. Zabwino koma chonde tikamalankhula tidzidziwa kuti kuli dzojambula mawu and mawu womwewo amakutsata komanso tidzilankhula tikudziwa kuti mawa lilipo tisamawone lero ndi lero basi kwatha and kulibenso mawa yayi mabwana wanga!!! Wishing well on your deliberations and we are ready to follow what you agree upon approval by President bwana Chakwera

  17. spare us these minute details about his life or when he arrived for a meeting. Remember a meeting is just a talk show but what we need is action/implementation. Chilima talks alot but doesn’t implement for example his reforms under dpp nothing was achieved despite holding several meetings. Under tonse alliance iam yet to see the impact of his reform meetings.

    1. You are very stupid , indeed think of Malawi not politics here , though I know you are diehard of DPP ,but please take off party colour, this is very serious issue we need to join hands

      1. Stupid iweyo, APM is a statesman and he provided a roadmap to development and combating covid 19, inu mpaka pano Tonse Alliance has no vision for the country, busy kuyendera ma project a previous govt. Where are the 1,000,000 jobs? Pano even a single one sanalembedwe! Hahahahahaha

    4. When did they know kuti covid ilipo, i thot u were telling people kuti kulibe, nanga mwatanganiridwa ndichani tsopano.APM wanted to safeguard lives of Malawians and iwe bwana ako Chilima and JB telling anthu, covid kulibe. Fotseki, just sit down. U have nothing to say, u will c what the covid will do.

      1. Cadet ndi nzake wa MYP tiye nazoni – mwakumana tsopano

        Aliyense wa inu akuteteza office yake

        Koma COVID singathe ndi ma meeting a physical – vitual/online meeting is the way to go

        Ndalamazo mudyabe mawa kukacha kunjaku

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