Malawi has announced a three-week lockdown to try and curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, joining other southern African countries like South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe which have previously announced full or partial lockdowns.
Health and Population Minister Jappie Mhango said the lockdown will be in effect from April 18 to May 9, adding that all non-essential businesses would close, and services would stop.
At a news conference on Wednesday, President Peter Mutharika said Malawi could lose up to 50,000 lives from coronavirus if appropriate measures are not taken.
Malawi has recorded 16 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and two coronavirus related deaths. South Africa currently has the highest number of confirmed cases in the Southern African region, currently at more than 2,500.
On Tuesday, Namibia extended its stay-at-home order by two-and-a-half weeks.
As Malawi announced the lockdown, the country’s Supreme Court began hearing an appeal by President Mutharika against the cancellation of his re-election.
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Following elections last May, President Mutharika’s lawyer admitted that electoral laws were flouted during the polls but said the breaches did not materially prejudice anyone.
His lawyer, Samuel Tembenu, admitted correction fluid was used but said no votes were altered.
“There is no evidence to state that votes were taken from one candidate and given to another,” he told Supreme Court judges.
In February, the Constitutional Court annulled the results and ordered a rerun, citing ‘grave and widesprea’ irregularities including the use of correction fluid on tally sheets.
Tembenu said the Constitutional Court used the term “irregularities” loosely, adding that “they were merely breaches of the electoral law”.
A new election has been scheduled for July 2, although it could be delayed by the appeal and the coronavirus outbreak.
It is the first time a presidential election has been challenged on legal grounds in Malawi since its independence from Britain in 1964.