First Deputy Speaker Kazombo suggests on closing borders in the wake of nasty COVID-19 second wave

First Deputy Speaker Kazombo

* Let’s open more centres for testing everywhere including remote health centres

* Let’s have mobile vans deployed in Trading Centres parked with testing kits

* More health personnel should be deployed, more drugs be bought

By Duncan Mlanjira

First Deputy Speaker of Malawi Parliament, Madalitso Kazombo is suggesting that the government should consider closing borders and open more centres for testing everywhere including remote health centres in the wake of the nasty COVID-19 second wave that has hit the country.

Through a Facebook post, Kazombo said more resources should be channelled towards the fight against the second wave by among other measures, deploying more health personnel; buying more drugs and restricting foreign travels.

“Let’s save Malawi — people are dying,” he said in reference to over 30 deaths in the past nine days and over 2,067 active cases that have been registered as of the situation report issued on Saturday evening.

“It’s too much — radical thinking is needed; radical implementation of ideas is needed, more quarantine centres be opened.”

He mourned the passing on of the country’s iconic radio personality and music diva, ‘Lady Groove’ Maria Chidzanja Nkhoma, who died on Saturday from COVID-19 related complications.

“Many people are sick but are not tested. Apa tisapange chidodo (let’s not sit idly back). Let’s have mobile vans deployed in trading centres — parked with testing kits and another with drugs, another with staff.”

He suggested more civic education to teach people on home natural remedies such as “how to use bluegum, ginger, onions, lemons and exercises” which people are practising but haven’t yet made official by the health authorities.

“Let’s all join hands. When Parliament meets from 8 February, 2021, this should be the starting point. I beg.”

In response, commentators suggested that February 8 is too far off as that is a normal meeting.

The commentators say the pandemic’s second wave deserves an emergency meeting from both sides, not just at Cabinet level.

Others suggested that the emergency meeting should preferably be held through virtual conferencing since special gatherings are restricted to 100 people and Parliament has 193 MPs and hundreds of support staff.

In her agreement to the virtual meeting, Martha Khungwa said “this is an emergency situation” and cannot wait for up to 3 weeks from now.

“How many would have died by 8th Feb? Let President [Lazarus Chakwera exercise] his powers to command things — it’s too frustrating.”

Lemekezani Chipanje suggested that Malawian returnees from South Africa should not be allowed to leave Mwanza Border but should be tested and quarantined there until they observe the required period.

He said it’s not prudent to ship them all the way to Blantyre to the isolation centre that has been reserved at Maganga Police Training School.

He also agreed with Kazombo to open up more quarantine centres at other main entry boarder posts such as at Songwe and Dedza.

Evray Robinsons reminded Kazombo that he seemed to have forgeting of his position as First Deputy Speaker of the Malawi Parliament.

“It’s PAR 2 — very high position for decision making. Start deciding. You can talk to the President, Vice-president, Cabinet Minister [about what your are suggesting].

“You are behaving like a commoner — just spectating from the stands. Be brave enough and face the Presidency for action as the Speaker.

Bond Mtembezeka also agreed with Kazombo in the need to procure enough test kits.

“Right now, testing for COVID-19 should be standard protocol in all hospitals just as much as full blood count and malaria are. More people need to be employed and more isolation centres need to be set up,” he said.

On New Year’s Day, the total number of active cases were at 604; January 2 registered 28 new cases, one death with total active cases at 626 and one death; Jan. 3 had 132 new, three deaths and 750 active; Jan. 4 had 91 new cases, one new death and 837 active with Jan. 5 having 175 new cases, three news deaths and 948 active cases.

The new cases dramatically rose on Wednesday (Jan. 6) at 227 with no new death, bringing total number of active cases to 1,141; Thursday had 274 new cases, four new deaths and 1,407 active while Friday had 314 new case, five deaths and 1,705 active.

Saturday’s report had a record high of 381 new cases, bringing total number of active cases to 2,067. Since January 1, the recovered cases had been at just slightly over 100.