By Alick Nzangaya
The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has described the Malawi government’s plan to introduce mandatory Covid-19 vaccination as an infringement of people’s rights.
This comes as recently government through Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, who is also Co-Chair of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 announced that it will introduce mandatory vaccination by January, 2022.
According to government’s statement on the matter, the Covid-19 mandatory vaccination will be effected on all public servants, frontline workers, and those working in the social sector, including journalists.
However, MHRC through a press statement released on Tuesday December 21, 2021 says the compulsory vaccination is an interference with the human right of bodily integrity, which is a part of the right to private.
In the statement which has been signed by the commission’s chairperson Scader Louis, MHRC says the vaccinations, like any other medical interventions, must be based on the recipient’s free and informed consent.
The commission through Louis further said ultimately, international law provides a strong indication that the right not to be subjected to medical treatment is an absolute right that cannot be limited thereby setting a bar on any attempt to mandatory forms of medical treatment.
“In this regard, the Commission is not in support of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination as it violates fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and other international human rights instruments, even if the issue of collective or public rights is brought into the equation.
“The Commission therefore advises Government to maintain its current position that Covid-19 vaccination is voluntary and embark on massive civic education and campaigns, aimed at demystifying the myths of vaccines so that people can make informed decisions regarding the vaccine,” reads part of MHRC statement.
Louis continued to say, while the commission has always supported voluntary vaccination, it is of the view that the public by now should be able to assess the greater benefits for itself in being vaccinated, and should weigh these benefits against defending their rights.
The Commission further says it is not convinced that all efforts have been exhausted by the State to educate the people on the need for and workings of the vaccines in an effort to convince them to voluntarily vaccinate.
MHRC further added that it holds that any attempt to adopt mandatory Covid-19 vaccination should be the last resort after exhausting all less coercive and non-punitive means.
“The Commission therefore finds mandatory vaccination not only intrusive and coercive but also a violation of human rights. This measure can only be considered if voluntary mechanisms have clearly failed, and which is not the case at the moment,” reads another part of the statement.
Meanwhile, cases in the fourth wave of the pandemic continues to rise as on Tuesday December 21, 2021, the country registered 943 new Covid-19 cases, 1 new recovery and zero new deaths.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 66,166 cases including 2,313 deaths while 59,162 cases have recovered and up to date there are 4,459 active cases and of the population, 52 active cases are currently hospitalised.
