By Stanley Ugagbe
Malawi’s former president, Joyce Banda has accused the government of bloating Covid-19 figures and abusing resources of the pandemic in the country.
The former number one citizen of the country made the remarks while speaking at a Tonse Alliance mega rally in Blantyre. Banda claimed that the government is deliberately increasing Covid-19 cases in order to receive donor funding.
In her words, Banda said “They have imported a dead body from South Africa to increase the number of Covid-19 deaths in the country, so that people will be scared ahead of the fresh presidential elections”.
Banda, who acknowledged the presence of the disease in the country, said: “Covid-19 is real but the way this country is handling corona virus resources leaves a lot to be desired.”
“The way government is abusing Covid-19 funds from the donor community is disheartening as much is being spent on allowances than for the intended purposes”.
She added that “In other countries Covid-19 funds are being properly managed by improving the health sector just like we did in the country by renovating Ntcheu and Dedza district hospitals when refugees came into the country during the Mozambican civil war”.
Recall the former President was recently censured by some quarters after a Facebook page post in which she accused the government of politicizing the Covid-19 threat in the country.
The former president claimed that there was a lack of accurate information and political will in fighting the pandemic.
Health experts around the globe have warned politicians against politicizing the pandemic which has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide.
Like many other countries across the globe, Malawi’s covid-19 cases are on the increase.
