Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, has emphasized that respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2( SARS-Cov-2) the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19) presents a huge challenge to all humankind in a a globalized world as many countries continue to suffer in terns of socio-economic development including Malawi.
Nankhumwa was speaking at Zomba Maximum Prison on Friday, the 4th of December, 2020 where he donated face masks to prison authorities as one scientific measure that helps to curb the spread of the virus.
“The pandemic we face today can not be defeated by one individual or state machinery alone. Rather, we need to combat this virus by working collectively as one united nation. We need to invest a lot in the health sector by among other things protect and motivate our front line armies; the health personnel who risk their lives to save and serve the nation with total dedication and patriotism,” said Nankhumwa who is also the DPP vice president for the South.
Nankhumwa appealed to government to release all pregnant women who are in jail to avoid preterm births and other complications and parole some prisoners who have minor cases and have showed good behaviour as one way of decongesting the prisons on Christmas Day.
“Covid-19 crisis inside jails has laid bare our public health emergency created by mass incarceration in this country. The dehumanizing, unhealthy situations of the prisons have profound adverse effects on the health and well-being of staff”, said Nankhumwa.
In his remarks Assistant Commissioner of Prison, Thom Mtute just summed up his speech by quoting the Contemporary English Bible Version from the book of Matthews 25:36
“And when I was naked, you game me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.”
