Mzuzu vendors hold demo against 21-days lockdown
Angry Mzuzu City vendors on Thursday took to the streets to protrst against government’s decision to implement a 21-day lockdown as measure to contain Covid-19, the strain of coronavirus disease, saying it will cause more problems for the urban poor.
The market and street vendors who started the protests without notifying the authorities as stipulated in the law, vowed to defy the lockdown order.
Speaking in a random interview with Nyasa Times, vendors said the lockdown will create an economic disaster and asked government to first provide them food for the days.
“We shall not abide to the lockdown order. Give us food that will save our families for 21 days,” said Godwin Kaunda.
The vendors who closed their shops market areas said it was a “great mistake to think in terms of lives versus livelihoods”.
Many said they would rather die with Covid-19 than hunger.
Before the lockdown which starts on Saturday, the government announced a series of measures to cushion the economic effects, including Medef loan fund to help small businesses.
However, the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) while welcoming the lockdown, said more needed to be taken to ensure that Malawians would have jobs to return to once the pandemic was over.
MCTU also asked government and private sector to cushion workers.
President Peter Mutharika has warned that “if (we are ) not careful, Malawi could lose up to 50,000 lives from Cvodi-19.”
Mutharika said at a national address with Health Minister Jappie Mhango announcing the lockdown lasting from April 18 until May 9.
Mhango said all non-essential businesses and services would cease.
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The cemetry is full of heroes
Abale Anzanga ndi umbuli olo chani. MDF and Police thyapani mosaona nkhope onse amene akukana lockdown. Lockdown is good for even those stupid ignorant people who are demonstrating.
All it takes is one person in that crowd to have corona and pass it on to everyone there..
Mr President, you have tried your best, just let these stupid people die of Corona, let them enjoy their rights and roam free in mzuzu village. Let them
be Sir. Mtumbuka sazatheka.
Maybe when they start dying they will get your good and honest intentions. Maybe they will understand you are already 79 and lived your life, it’s their lives you are trying to protect. Let these people be,Sir
Solutions to this problem,the government should distribute food parcels to those who don’t have.Use soldiers and police officers to do that first.Then lockdown can come.That is first solution.The second solution is this one,if the government can not manage to distribute food parcels then there should be no lockdown, instead allow Malawians to keep their day to day activities so that they can find food.The soldiers and police officers should force everyone to put musk on. Anyone who does not comply arrest him or her.Forcing Malawians who have no food to go inside houses it’s suicidal and criminal offence.I believe the… Read more »
a police ndi army akhala mmiseu reinforcing ,if not kumenya anthu mmiseumu
Kkkkkkkkk the term “hand to mouth” reminds me of my economics professor which is referred to as “frugal economy” wojiya kuakawa a minibus K4780.00 kudyera chips, kumwera nkalabongo yosala kamalizira hule. Day in day out. Zero saving. Zadala. Government can’t afford to jeopardize the lives of its citizens because of the so called hand to mouth economics.
Which hunger are you talking about? Weve had good rains this year and last year. One dpp creates this hunger by deliberately failing to stock the grain reserves and two most farmers are stupid for they realise enough but sell at cheap prices to vendors who in turn resell at these funny prices.
Koma mtundu wa anthu a ku North azazindikira onse atatha. Makani pachilichonse. Mpaka COVID-19 nkumamuchitiranso makani? Ok, tiyenazoni.
They are not Vendors but Covid-19 Fans and transmitters!
The virus can survive on surfaces for 72 hours. Think how each time the Vendor gives you change, you get back a free gift in the virus to go and infect your own loved one’s and friends at home.
In the end, life is worth much much more.
You are writing your own history for the few that survives this. If measures are nog taken, believe me 50,000 people dying will be reached in record time. Future generations will question why such intelligent and peace loving people chose to be martyrs!
If opposition is not careful you will lose plenty votes through Covid19 tolerated deaths in the North. I bet you when people start suffering from civid19 Peter will not send any help to make sure they die. Look far please.
Foseki
We are talking about welfare issues of Malawi. If lock down is not done expect people dying in large numbers in Malawi