Malawi election campaigns flout Covid-19 restrictions

Malawi’s main political coalitions have continued to flout Covid-19 restrictions in the country, holding huge political rallies over the weekend that completely defied directives on social distancing and mask-wearing.

They are campaigning in advance of the fresh presidential elections, due to be held 2nd July.

Opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera, who has formed a broad alliance of nine parties, held a massive campaign rally in the northern city of Mzuzu on Sunday.

Hours earlier, the country had reported its highest single-day spike in confirmed coronavirus cases. 13 more cases were confirmed, with five of the patients being health workers. The country has so far reported 57 cases and three deaths. 

Malawi is due to re-run presidential elections after last May’s vote was nullified by the country’s constitutional court.

President Peter Mutharika’s initial victory was declared void after reports of widespread vote tampering, including the use of Tippex corrective fluid.

President Mutharika’s running mate, Atupele Muluzi, also hosted a rally of his own in the capital Lilongwe over the weekend.  

The Malawi Electoral Commission has urged political parties to find new ways of campaigning during the pandemic, but neither side has followed the advice. 

A ministry of health official described the campaigns as regrettable but said they had little power beyond just prescribing measures - it was up to the police and other government agencies to enforce them. 

Photo: AFP