Chilima cancels reforms meeting in Mzuzu due to COVID-19 surge

State Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima has postponed a meeting on Public Sector Reforms which was scheduled to take place today in Mzuzu with the leadership of Northern Region based Parastatal organisations and District Councils.

Spokesperson in the Office of the Vice President Pililani Phiri confirmed of the development in a statement made available to faceofmalawi.

According to Phiri, the postpoment is in line with the new guidelines released by government stopping large gatherings in the wake of an upsurge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

“On Friday 10th July, 2020 after the release of the new guidelines, the Directorate of Public Sector Reforms communicated the postponement to all invitees and stakeholders to the meeting who include Heads of Parastatals, Directors of Finance, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Mzuzu City Council and all District Councils in the north.

“The postponement is in line with a Covid-19 Situation Update released by government which states that owing to the escalation of infections and deaths due to Covid-19, there is need to implement stricter measures to contain the spread of the Corona virus in cities, towns, municipalities and communities throughout Malawi,” reads in part the statement.

Added the statement: “The Office of the Vice President notes that the Mzuzu meeting would have attracted more participants as it would have brought together all northern region based District Councils, Parastatal CEOs and their Directors of Finance hence the postponement of the meeting to a later date to be announced.”

Malawi has so far recorded over 2000 cases of Coronavirus with over 30 deaths.