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Nine opposition parties have formed an alliance against President Peter Mutharika
Malawi’s main political coalitions continue to challenge Covid-19’s preventive measures in campaigns for a new presidential election scheduled for July 2.
Large political protests took place over the weekend, completely challenging social distancing and mask-wearing measures, hours after the country reported its highest peak in a single day in confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Malawi will hold a new presidential vote after the country’s Constitutional Court annulled President Peter Mutharika’s re-election last May.
Opposition candidate Lázaro Chakwera, who formed a nine-party alliance, carried out a major campaign in the northern city of Mzuzu on Sunday.
President Mutharika’s running mate, Atupele Muluzi, also addressed a large meeting the same day in the capital Lilongwe.
The protests were held a day after Health Minister Jappie Mhango confirmed 13 more cases of coronavirus, and five of the cases were detected among health workers. To date, the country has reported 57 cases and three deaths.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has advised political parties to find new ways to campaign in the wake of the pandemic, but neither party has heeded the call.
A Health Ministry official described the campaigns as regrettable, but said his role is limited to prescribing measures and that he depends on other government weapons, such as the police, to enforce them.
