State President advises Malawi Police Service to enforce professionally newly gazetted covid-19 guidelines
State President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has advised Malawi Police Service to enforce professionally the newly gazetted guidelines to combat further spread of covid 19 pandemic.
Chakwera made the remarks in his national address regarding steps government is taking to contain the situation.
This comes few days after human rights activists and Malawi Human Rights Commission condemned police brutality after video clips went viral on social media depicting police officers beating people found lingering around without putting on a mask.
In his speech, President Chakwera commended members of the public who are complying with the newly gazette laws describing it as a step to stop the spread.
Dr Chakwera however said he has directed the Minister of Homeland Security to work with the Inspector General in ensuring that police officers are properly trained in the enforcement of the new rules.
“Malawi is not a police state therefore any person found to be in violation of public safety laws must be subjected to due process,” stresses the state president
Dr Chakwera also expressed concern over the report that some boarding schools sent students home without authorization from health authorities, a development which he said has the risk of further spreading the virus to vulnerable groups in the community.
On this note, the president has repeated that all boarding school students should remain on campus until they have been provided with support to manage the infected ones and those negative.
On food security, Dr Chakwera has revealed that he has already discussed with the minister of finance and agriculture in an effort to ensure that the price of maize from ADMARC depots is subsidized.
“The idea is meant to ensure that during the state of national disaster Malawians are accessing food at an affordable price,” Chakwera
In conclusion president Chakwera has urged all Malawians to continue following guidelines to avoid further spread of the pandemic.
