The symbolic ceremony to present the mandate of governing this country in the hands of the state president Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has taken place at Kamuzu Barracks parade square on Monday July 6 alongside Malawi’s 56th independence celebration.
Led by commander for the Malawi Defence Force, General Peter Namathanga, the sword was presented to president Chakwera at exactly 11:15Am and the 21 gun salute which is the highest honor given to the heads of state by the Malawi Defence Force was conducted in honor of the newly inaugurated head of state and at exactly 11:18Am, the new commander in chief of the MDF Dr. Lazarus Chakwera went down to inspect the first guard of honor in his capacity as the commander in chief of the defence force.
The inauguration signifies full Presidential powers over the governance of the country and the MDF as the commander in chief for the defence force. In his speech president Lazarus Chakwera thanked all Malawians for their sacrifices towards making him and his vice who they are today saying without them the new dawn of democracy won’t be possible. He then encouraged the citizens to have the courage and endure the pains as it is good that they clear the messes first before they start to rebuild the new Malawi.
President Chakwera has lamented that all Malawians must work hard and work smart as time for handouts to noise makers and hand-clappers has passed. He has since promised to be going to Parliament to answer questions from MPs, ask Parliament to reduce presidential powers and be meeting opposition leaders.
The function took place at Kamuzu Barracks parade ground after president Chakwera announced in a national address on Sunday evening that due to fast spread of Covid-19 pandemic the inaugural ceremony must not take place at the Bingu National Stadium as initially scheduled and was attended by delegates from other countries including Tanzania, Zambia including the chewa chief Kalonga Gawaundi, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Also in attendance were local dignitaries like politicians, judiciary, chiefs and religious leaders.
Dr. Chakwera won the fresh election on June 23, 2020 with almost 58% to become the 6th president of the republic of Malawi and was sworn in on June 28,2020 at Malawi Square of the BICC complex. *From Kamuzu Barracks parade square in the city of Lilongwe, this is Chilimunthaka reporting*
Following the press briefing that opposition DPP leaders, Nicholas Dausi and Gelzeder Jeffrey did in Lilongwe where they accused Tonse government of political witch hunt, here is the full statement from the party
” The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would like to bring to the attention of Malawians and the international community concerns over political witch-hunting, harassment and persecution against its members by the new Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Government of His Excellency President Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
Malawians and the entire international community should take note that the MCP Government has embarked on a frightening hate campaign against DPP leaders and members, which include arbitrary arrests and dismissal from employment of perceived DPP sympathizers in the public sector, among others.
As a political party, which has always believed in the rule of law and good governance, we wish to condemn in the strongest terms the recent political arrests of senior and rank and file members of the party, notably Honourable David Kambalame, DPP Central Region Governor, DPP National Governing Council member Ngozi Harawa, Jomo Osman and Agape Nkhobe, by the MCP Government.
Information reaching us indicates that the MCP Government will conduct more mass arrests of DPP and other opposition members, including the former President His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, former First Lady, Madame Professor Gertrude Mutharika, Tadikila Mutharika, DPP Secretary General, Grezelder Jeffrey, Regional Governor, South, Honourable Charles Mchacha, DPP Director of Elections, Honourable Dr. Ben Malunga Phiri, DPP Spokesperson, Honourable Nicholas Dausi, DPP Vice President, Eastern Region, Honourable Bright Msaka, Honourable Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Honourable Mzomera Ngwira, Honourable Dyton Mussa, Honourable Leston Mulli, Honourable Joseph Mwanamveka and Professor Mutharika’s personal bodyguard, Norman Chisale; arrests bordering on politics.
We also wish to strongly condemn intimidation and harassment antics perpetrated against vendors and business persons perceived to be DPP and UDF sympathizers, notably those in Blantyre, Limbe, Lilongwe, Zomba, Ntcheu, Balaka, Liwonde, Nkhata Bay, Nkhota Kota, Karonga and Mzuzu.
As a government that has barely settled in the joystick of power, we fail to understand that its first act should be to arrest opposition members on politically-motivated charges. This is uncalled for and we wish to urge them to halt these political arrests and persecution.
On 23 June, 2020, Malawians voted in the historic fresh presidential election. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared candidate for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), His Excellency Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his running mate, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, winners.
During his maiden speech as Leader of Opposition in Parliament on June 30, 2020, Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa, MP, duly congratulated His Excellency President Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and State Vice President Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima for their victory.
Honourable Nankhumwa pledged opposition’s support to the new government as it embarks on the momentous task of managing the economy and re-uniting Malawians against a backdrop of serious tribal, ethnic and regional divisions.
Therefore, it comes to us as a huge surprise that instead of embarking on a serious social and economic transformation path, the new government of His Excellency President Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has embarked on a nefarious plan of arbitrary arresting and persecuting political opponents.
The Malawian political history presents a lot of free lessons to His Excellency President Chakwera and his administration. For over 30 years, between 1964 and 1994, the MCP committed serious atrocities against Malawians, including arbitrary arrest and detention without trial of perceived enemies of the MCP regime. Many people were killed and others fled into exile.
Malawians voted for change in June In 1993. We changed from a one-party dictatorship to democracy following a National Referendum. In May 1994, Malawians voted in a new UDF Government in multiparty elections.
A 2010 report by the British High Commission stated that Malawi had “made good progress on human rights since the introduction of multi-party democracy” in 1994, when Malawi’s Constitution went into effect. The British report noted that Malawi’s Constitution “protects fundamental rights,” that the country “has signed up to most international treaties,” and that there were “no political prisoners in Malawi jails as was the case during the one-party era.” It is therefore retrogressive and utterly unfortunate for the MCP to re-introduce one-party era politics of arbitrary arrests and political persecution.
Let us remind His Excellency President Chakwera that in 1993, Malawians opted for multiparty democracy where they would enjoy freedom of association, including belonging to a political party of their choice.
We are of the strongest view that the ongoing spate of arrests and political persecution is an attempt by the MCP Government to oppress voices of dissent and suppress the free political expression of the people.
We wish to request His Excellency President Chakwera and his administration that no more arrests be made and that those arrested on politically-motivated charges be released as promptly as possible.
For the restoration of peace and stability in Malawi after the recent political turmoil following the disputed 2019 presidential election, it is important for both the Government and opposition to reach out to one another and create a peaceful Malawi.
We call on Government and opposition to build mutual confidence and pursue dialogue to ensure political, social and economic development of the country, Malawi, which we all call HOME.
We call on the international community to immediately intervene and encourage the MCP Government of His Excellency Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to uphold the rule of law and good governance in line with international laws and governing standards.
Finally, we wish to assure all Malawians and the international community that being a duly registered political party in Malawi, the DPP has the right to defend Malawi’s hard-won democracy. We will resist any further attempts to intimidate the leadership of the party and its entire membership. We shall not be forced into political submission!
Honourable Gelzeder Jeffrey Honourable Nicholas Dausi
The state president of Malawi Dr Lazarus Chakwera has dispelled some common misconceptions about the Covid-19 pandemic and urged Malawians to exercise caution and follow all recommended precutionary measures. He made the call at the a special address to the nation on Saturday morning.
Chakwera says the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) has gotten worse in the past three weeks.
Chakwera addressing the nation
He said more than 75 percent of the coronavirus-related deaths have occured in the past three weeks.
He further said the rate of local transmission has also risen in the past three weeks.
Ahead of the inauguration ceremony and 6 July cerebrations on Monday, President Chakwera said only 20 thousand people will attend the event at the 40,000 capacity Bingu National Stadium.
This, he says, is to ensure that social distance is observed and that everyone will have to wear cloth masks and sanity their hands.
A Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Soldier has become the seventeenth person to die of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Joshua Malango confirmed the development on Saturday Morning.
Malango said the Soldier Major Chiumia who was the deputy principal of MDF Army secondary school died this morning at Kameza Covid-19 Quarantine Centre in Blantyre.
Meanwhile, the country has a total number of 1498 confirmed cases of Covid-19 including 317 recoveries.
President Chakwera has urged Malawians to be cautious to prevent the spread of the virus. His government has put on new measures that promotes social distancing including limiting number of people that will attend his inauguration ceremeony
All 28 districts in Malawi now have confirmed coronavirus (Covid-19) cases after Rumphi registered its first two cases this week.
In an interview yesterday, Rumphi District Health Office (DHO) spokesperson Bwanalori Mwamlima said the two cases involve a 70-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman.
He said both cases are locally transmitted infections which were identified at Rumphi Boma and Mhuju in the district, and that contact tracing of the two is underway
Said Mwamlima: “The male patient is said to have travelled to Mzuzu where he contacted a relative who is a confirmed Covid-19 patient. This male patient had been taking antibiotics for some time. He tested positive to Covid-19 on June 25 2020.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera donating Covid19 protective equipment a few months ago
“The other patient tested positive on June 26 2020. Currently, both patients are self-isolating in their homes where they are being followed up by health workers accordingly.”
He said 11 Covid-19 tests have been conducted on the contacts of the two and that all health workers who previously attended to the patients have been put on quarantine while their samples are being tested.
“We are currently following up on more people who could have been in contact with the two patients,” said Mwamlima.
He has since urged people to strictly observe Covid-19 preventive measures as stipulated by the Ministry of Health.
On Tuesday, epidemiologist Dr Titus Divala asked government to urgently institute measures to halt the further spread of the pandemic, whose figures continue soaring.
He said: “There is need to formulate a Covid-19 Bill, containing the key evidence-based approaches, finances, epidemic management structures up to community level, relationship to government departments, among others, and seek parliamentary mandate for the management of the pandemic.”
Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe also asked government to reinforce the Covid-19 guidelines set up by the Ministry of Health so that the country’s fight against the pandemic is effective.
He said: “When the first case was reported, people took it seriously, and followed the rules, but this changed because a minister was given mandate to be announcing cases and some people thought it was political. Let technocrats continue handling the response.”
Last month, Chitipa district commissioner (DC) Humphrey Gondwe became the first prominent public servant to have died of coronavirus. Six other civil servants who had been in contact with the DC also tested positive.
On 20 March 2020, Covid-19 was declared a National Disaster in Malawi and on April 2 2020, the country registered its first three cases of coronavirus. This was followed by a lockdown announcement which was challenged in court.
The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Malawi as of yesterday was 1 265, including 16 deaths and 260 recoveries. Out of these, 639 are imported infections and 581 are locally transmitted, while 45 are still under investigation meaning the total number of active cases is 989.
