By Draxon Maloya
The effects of coronavirus are said to have condemned the vulnerable communiies into untold misery across the country.
This was disclosed b in Mzuzu on Monday afternoon when the community of St Egidio made an outreach visit to the elderly of Upper and Lower Chasefu in the city of Mzuzu.
Speaking after donating packs of assorted food items and face masks, an executive member of St Egidio responsible for the elderly, Pius Nyondo said the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the already fragile relationship that exist between the elderly and the community.
“Covid-19 is affecting the elderly heavily with already existing stereotypes in our ommunities they are living in, yet they are the ones who brought us into this world,” Nyondo said.
However, one of the beneficiaries, a 60 year old Trinitus Nyirenda a former primary school teacher said the communities are failing to utilize the elderly in many ways despite being retirees in sectors like education and preaching the word of God.
“We always appreciatefor various assistace we get from our relatives and other well wishers like the St Egidio, but with the current measures put inplace by the authorities, the situation is very unbearable because no one has the ability to assist us,” Nyirenda said.
Meanwhile, the Community of St Egidio has embarked on door to do reach out campaigns to the elderly as another way of complying with government imposed partial lockdown which is a containment measure for the spread of Coronavirus.
The donation comes as in some areas of the country the eldery are being targeted with witchcraft accusations.
Some angry Villagers of Mbuta in Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa District set ablaze houses and damaged property worth millions of kwachas for people being suspected to be practicing witchcraft.
According to Dowa Police Public Relations Officer, Gladson M’bumpha, it took the intervention of armed police officers to restore peace, law and order when they rushed to the village immediately after the matter was reported.