MP Msungama accuses Malawi govt of fabricating Covid-19 cases at Kaliyeka

Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City South East , Ulemu Msungama, of opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has accused Special Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus of lying that a person who died Wednesday in Kaliyeka, Lilongwe  was tested COVID-19 positive.

MP Ulemu Msungama: Corona sadly is being driven by a very bad political agenda on one side and a lackadaisical attitude on the other side

In statement posted on his Facebook page, the parliamentarian says he is completely disappointed on how government is confusing people by giving unsubstantiated and confusing reports on what has happened in Kaliyeka where the committee has declared an epicenter of coronavirus.

“Let me disclaim to the people of the motherland that this is a serious pandemic hence, this is not time for trivial party politics,” he says.

Adding: “I took a pause and decided to let the experts drive the narrative around Covid-19, and I was quiet, even though I saw that in Malawi, the fight against Corona sadly is being driven by a very bad political agenda on one side and a lackadaisical attitude on the other side…and then the drama decided to appear in my constituency, and now I am compelled so say something because I cannot hold my peace anymore”.

Msungama says his  “little research with the Lilongwe DHO and the local clinic ( 24hour Clinic) where these people were allegedly examined shows that no tests have been conducted and even the deceased, Mr Dudha, ( God rest his soul) was suffering from Asthma and not Covid-19.”

He says the contact tracing that was done also was rapidly and poorly done and apparently has shown that none of them are in fact sick.

“So it puzzles me how the Government machinery can rush to declare them Covid-19 positive and worse still elevate the national statistics, especially in Kaliyeka, Lilongwe. The fact is, there have been no tests, and as a result there is no outbreak in Kaliyeka. Mr Dudha’s immediate family members also confirm that he was asthmatic, actually from birth and died from an asthmatic attack.”

He continued: “I personally took the initiative, he says, and followed up with 24hrs clinic in Chilinde considering the fact that late Mr. Dudha was there recently and asked for the clinic to cease operations and further to that, all staff that had interacted with him should be tested, but though the DHO’s office promised to test them, but until now, nobody in that clinic is tested and the clinic is just operating normal.

“These very poorly administered and botched up cases cannot help but confirm my suspicion that the motive behind this hullabaloo is to scare the people in my constituency and the larger community registering and engaging in the upcoming fresh elections.”

Msungama further says he is not blind to the reality, Covid-19 is real and there are possibly many Malawians who are carrying the virus.

But he says this is not the time to create political fear and confusion.

“For crying out loud, please concentrate on finding and helping the people who are really sich  and need real help, that is the least we expect from you our government, and while I hold the floor, let me also say, think carefully about the so called lockdown, close our borders, please, design a lockdown that will make sense for Malawi and protect us as Malawians from the disease and from hunger.”

He suggests that the government task-force  needs beefing up with professionals, CSOs, other parties to create a more inclusive and proactive committee.

“For the nation, until this Government mans up and shows some leadership, corona is real, so please keep and maintain physical and social distance, as well as washing your hands often and refrain from touching your face. Together, with God on our side, we win! Psalm 91.5,” he concludes.

Nic Cheeseman, a professor of democracy at Birmingham University, says that Malawi’s leaders have used the pandemic as an excuse to infringe on democratic rights —  and secure their own position.

“Critics fear they are manipulating the crisis to consolidate their own power,” he said in quotes reported by Mail & Guardian.

The opposition is worried that Mutharika is going to use the pandemic to delay the fresh presidential elections slated for July 2 2020, and keep himself in power.

Already, controversial electoral commission chairperson Jane Ansah — widely viewed as a Mutharika surrogate —  has applied to have the election postponed. The courts rejected this application.

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Mofolo
Mofolo
3 years ago

Tikamati MCP singalamulire ndizimenezi mfundo alibe

George
George
3 years ago

This is the way how aids spread in africa and malawi.Anthu sankakhulupirira kuti aids ndiyoopsa,ankati aids ndikanyera ena ankati adzimwa mitinge ya makolo.Pamene anthu ankazindikira inali itapulula anthu.The same applies mutatis mutandis to this matter.Anthu amufuna kuona zinthu zoopsa mmalo moti apewe

Fingo
Fingo
3 years ago

Consider this: Not too long ago the Govt wanted 4 Chinese men to be quarantined because they had arrived from China. The men went to court and Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda set them free. The Govt then pulled out all stops in lambasting Kenyatta. Just a few weeks later, an asymptomatic man all the way in KK is told that he is Covid 19 positive. Why he was tested for Covid in the first place is not known (with limited test kits who would want to test an asymptomatic person? Maybe Chimunthu Banda knows something). After the team tells him he… Read more »

Faka Mpweya
Faka Mpweya
3 years ago

Msungama nde chaniso bweretsa statistics yako osamangokamba zopanda nzeru.

Ambele Kwacheni Banda
Ambele Kwacheni Banda
3 years ago

I can see arrests in the next government, zafikapo

The Patriot
The Patriot
3 years ago

For once my fellow Malawians, our nation is very poor even intellectual wise. It is for this very same reason that by misinformation the unsuspecting masses we have these subtle politicians like SKC running a very successful media smear campaign against government. To the opposition the fear is simple, once COVID is confirmed to be rampant then elections will be postponed until the the situation normalizes. And who knows when. It is only this thing which is really killing SKC. The opposition please be patient. They will try as much as possible to create anarchy and confusion such that the… Read more »

Mwene
Mwene
3 years ago
Reply to  The Patriot

Let govt. come up with a plausible Task Team as has been suggested by so many quarters. Why is govt. not listening and acting accordingly????

NACHITHIDZI PALIBE
NACHITHIDZI PALIBE
3 years ago
Reply to  The Patriot

I wish this fake covid-19 attack you and your family should be mentioned to see how painful it is being isolated by the community you think its something good look at you cadet

john phiri
john phiri
3 years ago

i suggested in this forum that before covid 19 number is broadcasted to the public make sure the information is a ccurate and cannot be disputed.this is not a joke but a serious problem. the mp has a valid point here which needs to be taken seriuosily. not everything that comes fom descending views is trash. what we need is accurate information otherwise this thing will finish us.

Kay
Kay
3 years ago
Reply to  john phiri

John phiri now that who and add have weighed in, what is your say?

GRM
GRM
3 years ago

Msungama as member of Parliament knows where he can take his complaint. This is a grave accusation. Please follow it up with the Ministry if you are not helped encourage the affected to seek redress in court. Fund their lawyer

Mtondoli
Mtondoli
3 years ago
Reply to  GRM

The ministry is Headed by a swrn CROOK!!!!

Dada
Dada
3 years ago

Msungama epitomises the stupidity of MCP and the evil heartedness of Chakwera.

Mpakateni
3 years ago

Pano aguluwa a DPP wa ali ku Bunda kugawa ma K10,000 kuti anthu alole kulembetsa kuti ali ndi coronavirus. Agalu omweomwewa akumayima pa nsanja kunena kuti musalowetse ndale coronavirus ndi cholinga chofuna kupusitsa anzao. Koma dziwani ichi inu a DPP, nthawi yakwana kuti muchoke m’bwalo anzanu alowemo, ndipo izi zichitika mufune kaya musafune. Kampeni yanu yomwe ikuchitika pa MBC yoti anthu akudzudzula kuti bwanji za chisankho zikupitiriabe ku Malawi siyiphula kanthu anta.Ku Malawi, ku South Korea ngalkala ku America zisankho zinachitika, ife tilepheranji. Maiko omwe akulepherets chisankhowo monga Uganda tikudziwa kuti m’maikowo mulibe democracy. Monga Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ndi democrat?

Rahim
Rahim
3 years ago
Reply to  Mpakateni

inu ndi opusa paziko Lapansi lonse basi against government chifukwa mukufuna kukavota kkkkkk mukawayika anyapapianuwo inu muzapindula? don’t be stupid with politics my friend people lives first politics later

NACHITHIDZI PALIBE
NACHITHIDZI PALIBE
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahim

sukudziwa mmene moyo ukuwawila galu iwe kuyambila zobela mavote zanu zija mabusiness anaima kalekale ndalama mukukhala nazo inu chifukwa munkapha ma alubino ife tizingofinyika mpaka liti tufuna malawi akhale chete tizipanga zina

Bonke
Bonke
3 years ago
Reply to  Mpakateni

Mpakateni, mwana wa ku chibwezi, usatinyase wamva!

Chinsapato cha Mrs Chakwera
Reply to  Bonke

Ha ha ha if u didn’t get the joke, this man just called you a basterd!!

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