Press Statement
Lilongwe, Tuesday, December 21, 2021
WE SAY NO TO MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), has noted with great concern growing tendency by the majority of Malawians who choose just to resign to fate, suffer in silence or, worse still, take action when it is too late to make meaningful change or impact.
CDEDI’s concern is being registered at a time when Malawians have chosen to remain silent, and are just watching the Tonse Alliance administration, under President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, forcing the Covid-19 vaccination on both willing and unwilling citizens, come January, 2022.
The Chakwera administration has already announced the mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for all public servants, including teachers and our men and women in uniform, or risk being fired.
We at the CDEDI are stunned with government’s directive, bearing in mind that countries with highest vaccination rates, such as Israel, the United Kingdom (UK) and the whole Europe, are reporting increased cases of the Covid-19, whereas in Malawi, there are nil deaths, with only 3.4 percent vaccination rate. What is the motive behind Malawi government’s directive?
Thus far, there is no evidence that the booster jabs are needed or necessary. However, it is proving risky because not many tests have been conducted on the vaccine’s side effects.
That said, we believe we should learn to live with Covid-19, the way we have done with other diseases that have rocked our nation. The fight against Covid-19 should not overshadow the fights against malaria, HIV and Aids, cancer, TB, BP, malnutrition and, of course, dehumanising poverty, which are equally taking a toll on our nation.
We are appealing to the Tonse Alliance administration to desist from merely copying what other countries are doing, for example, implementing lockdowns and mandatory policies without any basis.
Instead of imposing the unwarranted vaccine, government should promote healthy living such as keeping fit and avoiding sugars and processed foods,
which are making people vulnerable to many non-communicable diseases and, by extension, Covid-19.
CDEDI strongly believes that Malawians have a right to freely choose life and go for the vaccine, while others can also choose life by deciding not to take the jab. It should not be a compulsory affair.
Malawians may wish to know that there are endless protests in Australia, the UK, and the United States of America (USA) against the forced jabs. However, such events have been given total black out by the reputable media houses in Europe. Many people cannot speak freely and share their opinions on Covid-19 because they fear for their jobs, and censorship on Facebook and Twitter. This is making people wonder whether this is about Covid-19, or something else?
We at CDEDI, have also noted with concern that some employers are packing their employees into trucks to various vaccination centres to get the forced jab. This is a total violation of the rights of those employees and a violation of the Employment Act. CDEDI is appealing to all those subjected to such kind of treatment to come forward so that such employers should be dragged to court.
Last, but not the least, CDEDI is appealing to all well-wishers to join hands in moving the courts to stop the forced Covid-19 vaccine, when its effectiveness of the same has not yet been scientifically proven.
SYLVESTER NAMIWA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
0993 462 700
_End
CHICHEWA
Chidziwitso Kwa Ofalitsa Nkhani
Lilongwe, Lachiwiri, 21 Disembala 2021
TIKUKANA KATEMELA WA KOLONA WOKAKAMIZA
Bungwe la Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), lakhumumudwa ndi mchitidwe womwe ukunka nukulirakulira pakati pa a Malawi ambiri womwe angovomereza kuti chochitika chiwachitikire, kumvutika mkachetechete, ndipo movetsa chisoni kusanka kuchitapo kanthu madzi akafika mkhosi zomwe sizimakhala zothandiza ndipo sizisintha kanthu.
Nkhawa ya bungwe la CDEDI likubwera pomwe a Malawi asankha kukhala chete pomwe boma la Tonse motsogozedwa ndi Dr. Lazarus Chakwera likukamiza katemera wa KOLONA kwa a Malawi amene akufuna kubayitsa katemerayu komanso omwe sakumufuna kuyambira mu January, 2022.
Boma la a Chakwera lalengeza kale kuti katemera wa KOLONA akhala wokakamiza kwa anthu ogwira ntchito za boma monga aphunzitsi, asilikali apo bi omwe satero adzachotsedwa ntchito.
Ife ku CDEDI tikudabwa ndi ganizo la bomali poganizira kuti mayiko omwe ali ndi chiwerengero cha anthu obayitsa katemera wa KOLONA ambiri monga Israel, United Kingdom (UK) ndi mayiko onse aku ulaya komwe kuli anthu ambiri omwe apezeka ndi matenda a KOLONA sanapange katemera wa KOLONA kukhala wokakamiza. Cholinga cha bona la Malawi mupanga katemera wa KOLONA kukhala wokakamiza nchanji?
Pakadali pano, palibe umboni ogwirika wakuti katemera owonjezera akufunika kapena ndi waphindu. Koma zikuwoneka kuti akumapereka chiwopysezo chifukwa palibe kafukufuku wambiri wosonyeza kuyipa kwake.
Tikukhulupilira kuti a Malawi tiphunzire kukhala ndi KOLONA monga takhala tikuchitira ndi matenda ena amene akhala akutivutitsa. Nkhondo ya KOLONA isatiyawalitse kuti tikulimbana ndi matenda ena monga a malungo, HIV komanso EDZI, Khansa, TB, BP, kunyentchera komanso umphawi wadzaoneni womwe ukusautsa a Malawi ambiri.
Tikupepha boma la Tonse kuti liphunzire kupewa kumangotsanzira zomwe zikuchitika kumayiko ena, mwachitsanzo kulamula anthu kuti apite pa mbindikiro ndi njira zina zokakamiza popanda zifukwa zomveka bwino.
Mmalo mokakamiza anthu kuti abayitse katemerayu bona lilimbikitse mkhalidwe wa nthanzi monga kulimbikitsa anthu kuti azidya mosamalitsa, ndikuti azipewa zakudya zomwe zikuyika moyo wawo pa chiwopysezo chamatenda osapatsirana, ndipo kuwonjezera apo ku matenda a KOLONA.
Bungwe la CDEDI likukhulupilira kuti a Malawi ali ndi ufulu wosankha kubayitsa kapena kusabayitsa katemera. Kubayitsa katemerayu kusakhale mokakamiza.
A Malawi akuyenera kudziwa kuti kuli ziwonetsero zamkwiyo zosatha ku mayiko monga a Australia, UK ndi Amelika zotsutsana ndi kukakamizana katemera. Koma nyumba zikululu zikulu zofalitsa nkhani ku ulaya zizikufuna kufalitsa nkhanizi. Anthu ambiri sakutha kuyankhula momasuka pa nkhani ya KOLONA mumasamba amchezo chifukwa chowopa kuchotsedwa ntchito, komanso kaamba kakuti nkhani zokhudza KOLONA zimatsatidwa kwambiri ndi masamba a mchezo monga Twitter komanso Facebook. Izi zikumapereka mafunso kwa anthu ambiri kuti nkhaniyi ndi ya KOLONA kapena zina zake?
Ife ku CDEDI tawonanso kuti olemba ntchito ena akumakweza ogwira ntchito awo muma lole kuwatengera kumalo osiyana-siyana akatemera kuti akabayidwe katemerayu. Ife tikuwona kuti uku ndikuphyanya maufulu awanthu komanso maufulu awanthu ogwira ntchito. Bungwe la CDEDI likupempha onse apangiridwa mchitidwe wa nkhanzawu kuti abwere poyera ndicholinga choti olemba ntchito otelewa azengedwe milandu.
Ponaluza, bungwe la CDEDI likupempha anthu onse akufuna kwabwino kuti alithandize pomang’ala ku mabwalo a milandu kuti ayimitse katemera wokakamiza wa KOLONA, makamaka pomwe kukhulupilika kwa katemerayu sikunatsimikizike.
SYLVESTER NAMIWA
MKULU WA BUNGWE
0993 462 700
