Atupele on Trapence’s neck over rise in COVID-19 cases

United Democratic Front (UDF) President Atupele Muluzi who was also runningmate of former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika in the fresh Presidential polls has said Human Right Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Chairperson Gift Trapence is to blame over a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.

In April this year, the then President Peter Mutharika imposed a 21 days lockdown but HRDC led by Gift Trapence obtained an injunction against the lockdown.

The injunction saw politicians embarking on countrywide tour to woo Malawians to vote for them in the fresh Presidential polls which saw President Lazarus Chakwera of Tonse Alliance being declared winner of the polls.

The move also so the sharp rise in number of recorded cases of coronavirus hitting 1,300 at present.

Writing on his official facebook page Atupele blamed Trapence over a rise in coronavirus cases.

“Gift Trapence and his colleagues have put Malawian’s life at risk by going to court against lockdown. Now we have a serious upsurge in COVID19 cases which the lockdown wanted to prevent. This will take away one fundamental right to some which is the right to life. However you have noticed he chooses to play the devil’s advocate all the time, but there is a much bigger cost coming his way. When Malawian’s start dying of COVID they shall remember the men and women who exposed them to this pandemic.

“I struggle to figure out if this won’t be genocide – the events of the past have shown the disregard for destruction in your endeavour to be relevant. Everyone should be held accountable for their actions and that doesn’t make you an exemption. The new government has preached of justice but I think the first thing on the agenda should be election violence followed by COVID19. We should not choose to look the other side when the script fits us,” wrote Atupele.

But one of the Human Right Activists in the country, Billy Mayaya, has quashed Atupele’s claims.

“Honourable Muluzi, HRDC sought an injunction against a lockdown with the aim of ensuring that the then Government had clear mechanisms for social protection of the poor and vulnerable. The Courts agreed with our argument. The onus was on the then Government to present a counterargument as a basis for vacating the injunction.

“Please do not embellish your position with wild exaggeration and conjecture. The issue here must be the need for accountability for the abuse of power displayed by illegal use of a convoy during a campaign. HRDC is awaiting your response on that matter. Don’t divert attention from that matter. We weren’t born yesterday!,” Mayaya reacted.

Meanwhile fierce debate has ensured over the matter.