The Film Association of Malawi (FAMA) has postponed it's Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for 10th April and shifted to June 5, 2020 following Friday declaration of State of Disaster by state President Peter Mutharika due to COVID-19 threat.
Malawi has not registered any confirmed case of Coronavirus but it's neighboring countries of Zambia and Tanzania have registered cases of the pandemic.
The declaration which is expected to prevent the importation and spread of the disease into the country, has restricted any public gatherings to not more than 100 people and that all schools have been ordered to close by Monday, March 23, 2020.
In a memo to it's members, Horace Boti, FAMA Vice Secretary announced that; "Due to the effects of the declaration of the state of disaster by the state president and the restrictions in crowded gatherings, executive has resolved to postpone the scheduled elective conference to 5 June 2020."
The memo has informed it's members that the executive will communicate any developments regarding the proposed date and other programs that may come up in the period leading to the same.
In an interview, Boti said film industry like many other industries, has been pressed with the declaration as productivity has been halted.
"We planned to have an Elective Conference on 10 April but from the declaration of the state of disaster we have shifted to June. We were expecting membership in the region of 100 plus so we deemed it safe to postpone the AGM." He said
He mentioned that it was not possible for the association to use online voting technology since their constitution does not provide for such platforms.
"The elective conference has been rescheduled to June but registration of members will close on 31 March 2020 so those that still harbour the interest to be members of the Film Association of Malawi are encouraged to pay their membership within this month." He added.
When declaring State of Disater President Mutharika acknowledged that the interventions being implemented have a negative bearing on people’s right to enjoy some of their Constitutional human rights, but hoped that in pursuance of the greater national good, the country will be able to reasonably limit such rights within what is attainable in Constitutional framework.
He indicated that his government has developed a National Response Plan with a total budget of K15 billion in which his government has already provided K2.5 billion as immediate funding towards the response.
He then appealed to development partners and private sector to support the gap on government response plan.
He indicated that government has intensified screening of people in all border posts and airports and assured all Malawians that government is doing everything possible to prevent the virus from getting into the country.
Meanwhile, the UNFPA Malawi has announced that it has provided US$100,000 (MK73,409,150) to the Malawi Government to augment the ongoing COVID -19 response.
Young Hong, UNFPA Malawi Resident Representative said on Sunday that the funds will be used to procure medical equipment.
“The funding is part of concerted efforts by Government, development partners and the people of Malawi to respond to the crisis. UNFPA would like to express solidarity with all Malawians as we work to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic together,” said Hong
Highlights
Six new countries, 2 in Africa, 1 country in each region of Europe, America, South East Asia and Western Pacific have reported cases of COVID-19 as of March 21, 2020, says World Health Organisation (WHO).
COOVID-19 Situation in Numbers As of March 20, 2020
Globally
- 266 073 confirmed (New 32 000)
- 11 184 deaths (New 1344)
Western Pacific Region
- 94 037 confirmed (New 688)
- 3426 deaths (New 21)
European Region
- 128 541 confirmed (New 23 950)
- 6000 deaths (New 1 101)
South-East Asia Region
- 979 confirmed (New 61)
- 38 deaths (New 7)
Eastern Mediterranean Region
- 22 355 confirmed (New 1596)
- 1466 deaths (New 154)
Region of the Americas
- 18 877 confirmed (New 5606)
- 235 deaths (New 57)
African Region
- 572 confirmed (New 99)
- 12 deaths (New 4)
WHO indicates that risk assessment of the disease globally remains very high.
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