Kyungu urges Malawi govt to be ‘more serious’ on Ebola
Traditional leaders in Malawi’s northern boarder district of Karonga have urged government officials to be serious on conducting their duties to save the country from the deadly virus of Ebola.
Paramount Chief Kyungu made the call during the emergency meeting on Monday with government authorities on mapping the forward on the escape of two suspected Ebola patients from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We are here today because officials which were given the duty to protect Malawians did not do their job well and up to now we don’t know where those two are. It’s time that Government officials stop politicking on serious issues if we want to develop our country,” said Paramount Chief Kyungu.
He said if other countries have the virus, Malawi can have it too if authorities are not taking serious measures to protect the welfare of Malawians.
Commenting on the petition from concerned citizens which called for the closure of a refugee transit centre in the district, Kyungu said closing the shelter is a long process but called for immediate review of movement of the refugees at the camp.
“Government should put measures that these refugees who are here in Karonga are restricted from moving up and down and also to re-allocate the shelter far from residential areas,” he said.
District Commissioner Rosemary Moyo urged the police to do their job in searching the missing suspected Ebola patients.
“We have agreed that in mean time police should help us in the search of two people who escaped at Songwe boarder and that those who are in the refugee camp should all get tested for our safety,” said Moyo.
Meanwhile District Police Officer in Charge Foster Mangani asked for help for them to work properly.
“We have in-adequate resources to do the searching so we need your help in terms of fuel to do serious patrols day and night and that every one should take issues as a national importance serious to help the country,” he said.
