Atupele questions Chakwera’s seriousness on COVID-19 fight

United Democratic Front (UDF) President Atupele Muluzi has questioned President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s seriousness on the fight against Coronavirus pandemic which has so far claimed over 100 lives across the country.

Atupele, a runningmate of former President Peter Mutharika in the past fresh Presidential polls said this in a statement posted on his official facebook page seen by this publication.

In his statement, Atupele questioned Chakwera’s administration for not allocating funds in the budget for COVID-19 fight.

“My fellow Malawians, watching the management of COVID-19 pandemic in the country under the governance of the new administration, one would wonder if indeed COVID-19 is indeed a priority.

“Leadership is seen through the commitments made in the national budget but as far as President Chakwera’s administration is concerned, there are no COVID-19 funds allocated in the national budget,” said Atupele.

He added:”The DPP administration established up to 41 sites for testing across the country but as we speak only 11 of these sites have testing kits. The public is struggling to get tested, we are witnessing both cases and deaths being underreported also a result of limited testing abilities in the country. This is seriously undervaluing the gravity of this pandemic in the country.

“Health workers across the country are demotivated by inadequate PPEs and allowances. As the numbers of infected health workers increase across the country. What plans does the government have to support our health workers who are infected? None, certainly nothing we can see.”

He said Chakwera’s administration has completely ignored risk allowance for health workers.

Atupele also pointed out the previous administration set aside 6.2 Billion Malawi Kwacha to cushion low income urban dwellers with social cash transfers but this is not the case with the new administration.

He has since urged the new government to fulfil its campaign promises.