State House dismiss Malawi VP Chilima address as ‘emptiness almost’
State House has hit back at the country’s estranged Vice-President Saulos Chilima over his remarks that there is public mistrust on the government on coronavirus matters, saying the televised address by the second-in-command was nothing, literally nothing worthy his stature but just emptiness almost.
In his national address Sunday night, Chilima faulted the lack of public trust in the government communication system, saying it could worsen the situation as it would lead to people lowering their guard and ignoring the basic instructions for preventing the contraction of the virus.
But presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani said the remarks by Chilima, who is also the UTM leader, are not sincere.
“He just wants to score a political mileage out of a very unfortunate situation,” said Kalilani.
Chilima also called on the inclusion of opposition leaders in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, Kalilani said Chilima and other opposition leaders are telling their followers to disregard preventive messages.
Recently, a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) MP Ulemu Msungama allegedly organised party supporters at Kaliyeka in Lilongwe to ambush coronavirus health workers who wanted to go to the area to trace contacts of a person who had tested positive for the virus.
Two other MCP members of parliament, Esther Kathumba and Monica Chang’anamuno obtained a court order to stop the government from implementing a lockdown.
In the televised address, Chilima also observed that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed “the shameful condition of the country’s healthcare infrastructure”, saying hospitals are in dilapidated state.
But he expressed optimism that the crisis will offer Malawians an opportunity to invest in improving the healthcare system to be prepared to handle crises of this nature.
He also applauded healthcare workers for the sacrifices they are making to serve the country, describing the cadres as “the nation’s finest”.
Malawi has so far recorded 36 cases of Covid-19 with three deaths and four recoveries.
Meanwhile, High Court in Lilongwe will this Wednesday deliver a judgment in a case involving the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) which obtained an order stopping government from implementing a three-week long lockdown in attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19.
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Can’t be “Emptiness, Almost” if APM has heed Chilima’s address advice and revamped Covid 19 Committee. As far as most people are concerned, Chilima’s address is producing results.
kkkk a Mgeme.. pamene inu mukuti the speech by Chilima was empty a President athu a Mutharika amumvera Chilima ndikuyika a opposition mu Covid-19 committe. Kodi vutu lanu maka maka ndi chani a Mgeme??? Musamatitukwanitsire President please!!!!
Excuse me Mgeme. I listened to Chilima’s address and at no time did he give me the impression he was addressing government. Rather, my understanding was that he was addressing the Nation and such being the case, it is up to Malawians who he was targeting to comment and not APM through his chatterbox Mgeme unless, ofcource he is referring to APM as just another ordinary Malawian.
Chilima ndi munthu womvesa chisoni Kwambiri. Ndi munthu woyipa…. Ndale… With corona…
kukanika kucomerezstu uki
what i saw in his speech ndi campaign NOT fundo
I myself I don’t trust your DPP leaders.Chilima akunena zoona.Vuto ndi inuyo a DPP.Do not blame others.If you included other people in the coronavirus committee,we could see transparent on what you are doing.Do not force people to trust you.Too much corruption and bribes in your blood.You told us that your have cut your salaries only to increase in allowances very clever move.That’s why I said, politics is science needs to think, kuwayika anthu pa pause ndikuwabera Mbali Ina.Chimodzimodzi telling Malawians Kut palibe atabere chisanhko,then inuyo a DPP mukukabera.Zili ndimalire zimenezi,am just waiting for what God has prepared for Malawians.
Sometime it is better to just keep quite than respond angrily every time the VP speaks. You are just proving his point that you are failing to co-opt others into the national fight against this pandemic, and as a result the people are viewing government acts with the usual suspicion they have for anything DPP.
Whats the problem with including the “opposition” in the planning? You don’t want to share the allowances perhaps? How fickle.
By the way, where is Nero? Tell him to stop fiddling, Rome is burning!! Assuming he is still responsive.
Even Dausi is better than this Mgeme. How did he find his way to the palace? SKC is far ahead in thinking than this Mgeme thing. Learn to appreciate good criticism.
Chilima is a child. Useless
Goliath was killed David who was very young, without Chilima corruption of DPP was not going to be exposed, without Chilima Malawians couldn’t see election nullified, So far 80 Billion Malawi Kwacha is missing under DPP leadership for the past 5 years while we don’t have learning facilities like secondary schools, Public Libraries, no drugs in hospitals check out our rural areas how our people lives
Its a pity ozayankha milandu kukhala Mgeme ma bwana ake atabwerera ku USA