Malawi court bars COVID-19 lockdown. The court had initially placed a temporary block on the stay-at-home order after a human rights groups filed a petition against the lockdown.
Malawi’s High Court on Tuesday extended indefinitely an order barring the government from imposing a 21-day coronavirus lockdown which was announced by President Peter Mutharika earlier this month. The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) argued that the government had failed to announce any measures to cushion the poor and vulnerable from the effects of the lockdown which had been due to start on April 19.
But in an address to the nation late on Tuesday, Mutharika caved and announced an emergency cash transfer programme targeting 172 000 households with a monthly $50 grant for six months beginning in May. “Coronavirus is… also an economic problem. It is affecting our businesses and livelihoods,” Mutharika warned. He added that those who deny its existence “must be sent to the mental hospital or to a lunatic asylum.”
The initial order blocked the shutdown for seven days, pending a judicial review. Following that review, High Court judge Kenyatta Nyirenda extended the ban for a further five days.
On Tuesday he decided to refer the case to the Constitutional Court because the issues raised by the petitioners required interpretation of the constitution. Judiciary officials were unclear when the case would be brought before the Constitutional Court.
But for now Judge Nyirenda has ruled that until the constitutional court sits and makes a ruling, “there must be no lockdown,” judiciary spokeswoman Agnes Patemba told AFP.
The HRDC went to court accusing the government of imposing the “lockdown without providing for social security interventions to marginalised groups”. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa. More than half of its population live below the poverty threshold.
“While we respect the health regulations regarding the lockdown, we want a lockdown that follows all… laws and we do not want rights of vulnerable groups to suffer,” said independent rights activist Victor Mhango.
“The lockdown should not infringe or limit constitutional rights,” he said. Mutharika said while the lockdown matter was still before the courts, he vowed the government would “proceed to do what is necessary to save lives as circumstances warrant.” Malawi has so far registered 36 coronavirus cases, including three deaths.
Source – Bulawayo 24 News
In other news – Misred: Letter to my body 2020
Misred: Letter to my body 2020. One of the hottest and baddest media personality in the country at the moment Misred has just delivered a sweet and motivating speech on her body. This comes after days of being backlashed by socialite and comedian Shadaya. Misred real name Samantha Musa, a ZiFM presented and ZBC show presenter.
She is constantly attacked because of how she expresses herself especially with the king of pictures she sometimes posts on her social media platforms. Misred is a thick person, which makes her a target for many men who socially bully thick…continue reading.
