IT is ironic that there is so much senseless debate on whether mass political rallies have been banned or not among the political bigwigs.
And this is against a backdrop of reports from health specialists warning that there has been an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
The Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development (UPND) appear to be driving in opposite directions on the interpretation of Covid-19 preventive measures.
While the PF says it will not hold mass rallies, but will rely on door-to-door campaigning, the UPND says it will hold public meetings in adherence to the health guidelines.
Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has also stepped in to remind the political players that before they inform the police about their meetings, they need to obtain clearance from the health authorities.
The irony is that political parties think the PF is out to stop them from carrying out any public campaigning. We do not think this is the case.
We feel political leaders must do what is good for the nation and adhere to what the health authorities are advising over the holding of public rallies.
We want politicians to stop politicking for once and come down to earth. Let them make decisions that protects and build the nation.
Covid-19 is not a laughing matter but a serious global deadly pandemic.
That Zambia has become one of the top 10 countries in Africa with the highest number of daily new Covid-19 cases is a reality as confirmed by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr Kennedy Malama.
Dr Malama warned that the country should brace itself for a possible third wave of the Covid-19, considering the daily upward trend.
He has since called for concerted efforts from all players across the country to work together in the fight against Covid-19. Working together means all pulling in the same direction.
Dr Malama said there was need to reinvent news wheels and learn from other countries on how they had dealt with the pandemic.
Learning from other countries is observing how India for example has come to a stage where the health system has literally collapsed because it has been swamped by Covid-19 cases.
And the genesis of this has been traced to the recent elections in some states that allowed huge political rallies, now referred as “super spreader events without taking any precautions.
The ripple effects of the Indian crisis is the disruption in the delivery of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines from India under the Covas facility.
In Kenya for example, the Ministry of Health has advised hospitals to stop giving first doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines.
This is to ensure that the more than 950, 000 Kenyans who received their first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine in mid- March will receive the booster shots from the initial delivery while waiting for a new consignment.
In Zambia, current records showed that 141, 359 people have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca or sinopharm, said Dr Malama. This is just a fraction of the country’s population hence the need be extra careful in the manner people conduct themselves.
The five golden rules of mitigating against the pandemic must continue to be applied religiously which is not possible in large settings.
Let each person be their brother’s or sister’s keeper in the fight against Covid-19 and not take chances with life.
Let politicians be the light.
