As COVID-19 spread across Africa and leaders put their countries in lockdown, Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina last month launched an herbal remedy that he claimed could prevent and cure the disease.

The announcement caught medical experts, who have scrambled to find a cure for the disease that has killed more than 252,000 and infected at least 3.6 million people globally, by surprise.

Rajoelina, a former DJ who in 2009 at the age of 34 became the continent’s youngest national leader, claimed at the launch that the remedy, named Covid-Organics, had already cured two people.

“This herbal tea gives results in seven days,” Rajoelina, 45, told journalists and diplomats in April.

Soldiers have since been going door-to-door in the Indian Ocean island country, which has reported 149 cases and no fatalities, dispensing the concoction.

What is in Covid-Organics?

The herbal remedy is produced from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy against malaria, and other indigenous herbs, according to the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, which developed the beverage.

The plant was first imported into the island nation in the 1970s from China to treat malaria.

It is now marketed in bottles as a herbal tea, while Rajoelina has said clinical trials are under way in Madagascar to produce a form that can be injected into the body.

Is it safe or effective?

Following Rajoelina’s claims, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people against using untested remedies for COVID-19.

“Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world,” WHO, the United Nations health agency, said in a statement on Monday.

“Even if therapies are derived from traditional practice and natural, establishing their efficacy and safety through rigorous clinical trials is critical,” the statement added.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warned people against using unproven remedies.

“There is no scientific evidence that any of these alternative remedies can prevent or cure the illness caused by COVID-19. In fact, some of them may not be safe to consume,” the CDC said.

Meanwhile, the African Union said it was in discussion with Madagascar with a view to obtain technical data regarding the safety and efficiency of the herbal remedy.

In an attempt to reassure people and brush aside safety concerns, Rajoelina took a dose of Covid-Organics at the launch event and said it was safe to be given to children.

Has it been exported?

Several African countries, including Tanzania, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, have either placed orders or have received consignments of the remedy.

On Sunday, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said he was dispatching a plane to Madagascar to collect a shipment of the tonic.

“I’m communicating with Madagascar,” Magufuli said during a speech, adding: “They have got a medicine. We will send a flight there and the medicine will be brought in the country so that Tanzanians too can benefit.”

Meanwhile in Guinea-Bissau, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo went to the airport on Saturday to receive a shipment of the beverage donated by the Madagascan leader.

COVID-19 has spread to all but one country in Africa, Lesotho. As of Tuesday, at least 1,862 people across the continent have died from the virus.

Source Al Jazeera

By Paul Samasumo – Vatican City

Due to COVID-19, Zambia’s Livingstone Diocese St Theresa’s Cathedral Administrator, Fr. Clifford Mulasikwanda, found himself with an empty Church, a cell phone, small laptop microphone and a second-hand tripod borrowed from a parishioner.
“Definitely, the COVID-19 crisis has brought about many negatives. The coronavirus is a terrible disease that needs to be eradicated. However, the crisis has shockingly led us onto a path we never contemplated just a few weeks ago. With COVID-19, we suddenly had to start streaming the Eucharist live on Facebook. We also suddenly had to increase content on social media and prepare for Easter celebrations and events that would be streamed live. All Churches in Zambia are closed, and the government is encouraging people to Stay at home. In our Cathedral parish, the rate of social media adoption and acceptance by the parishioners came like manna from heaven,” observed the Cathedral Administrator, Fr. Mulasikwanda.

Limitations, challenges with the technology

Necessity is the mother of invention. The Cathedral parish was woefully unprepared for live streaming and an increase in social media content. They did not have the needed equipment.
“So far, we only have my phone -a smartphone, small laptop microphone and a second-hand tripod borrowed from a parishioner. These have so far served us well, though with much struggle. Funds allowing, we would like to acquire the correct video capturing cameras and good microphones. Due to budget constraints, we have also been reliant on free Internet software. Our experience in the parish has taught us that the in-built free software, for audio and video, provided for by Facebook and WhatsApp, is often limited, in terms of functionality. That software is meant for home videos and so on. As a result of the lack of good equipment, the audio quality of our live Mass is often compromised. Parishioners have been understanding, but we cannot take their patience for granted,” Fr. Mulasikwanda said.

People need to see what they hear

Fr. Mulasikwanda says, “In today’s world, people need to see what they hear!  Otherwise, given our limitedness and the circumstances surrounding our parish, we make do with what we have as we slowly seek to improve both on content and the technology used,” he said.
“Aware of the fact that to stream live Spiritual events is costly on data, some parishioners, have even made modest donations and contributions, for the acquisition of data. There are many good people in our parish,” noted Fr. Mulasikwanda

Team of young persons

The Cathedral parish actually already had a Facebook and WhatsApp page managed by a small team of young people supervised by the Cathedral Administrator himself. Initially, these two platforms were mostly for parish administrative announcements and the occasional reflection. Now, they are constantly being updated with content such as Scripture readings, video and audio reflections and uplifting messages. The parish continues use them also for announcements and other useful messages. Daily streaming of Mass is now an important feature that is drawing-in many followers.

Most popular in Zambia are Facebook and WhatsApp

“People on this side of our world appreciate and use the most, Facebook and WhatsApp. These two seem to be quite easily accessible and available, across all classes of people: Men and women, boys and girls, senior citizens and the young, all seem to like Facebook and WhatsApp. As a pastoral worker, managing the Cathedral of St. Theresa’s in Livingstone Diocese, Zambia, I have noticed, with delight, how parishioners appreciate the existence of their official parish Facebook account and WhatsApp page,” observed Fr. Mulasikwanda.
How do you gauge the response to what you are doing?
“We have had the chance to ask many of our parishioners about their feedback. The response has been overwhelming. To give you an example: A parishioner, Anthony Ranjan, who is a Certified Chartered Accountant, told us, ‘Father thanks a lot for the creation of these tools. We appreciate them a lot. They are helping us to follow daily Mass from our homes. Thank you again for the Daily Bible Reflections.’ Another lady, Hilda Tembo, a parishioner from a nearby parish sent us a message about our Facebook page, ‘We thank you for creating the page. It is not only for parishioners of your parish. Even us, we are following you. Yesterday (Easter Vigil) when the Church bell was rung during the Gloria, my family and I came out of the house, we sung along and danced. Father may God bless you.’ Moba Mulenga said this about our Facebook live Mass, ‘We appreciate the Mass. We only need to improve on the audio output. You know there is too echo in an empty Church.’ There are several of our parishioners who hold similar sentiments about the two social media platforms of our parish. Many love the spiritual nourishment and the interconnectedness that these tools have created,” Fr. Mulasikwanda said.

You never know where the Spirit blows

When asked what he would you say to other parish priests or ministers who feel a little intimidated, challenged or reluctant to embrace social media for evangelisation, Fr. Mulasikwanda had this to say:

“The comments from our followers has made us aware that we have created a Church without borders, without boundaries. The people of God hunger for the Word of God during these challenging moments. Every minister of religion, who positively uses social media, certainly does not have a limited audience. You never know where the Spirit blows. Through social media, parishioners are being evangelised, catechised and sanctified.

VATICAN NEWS

‘To enact and execute just laws, is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.’ (Prov 21:2)

Very often when people in politics are asked about why they joined politics, they reply, ‘To help people.’ In the west, I have often heard a very different answer, ‘To make a difference.’

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

These two answers are superficially similar but they are not. When you look at politicians in Africa and in Zambia in particular, the way they help people is by using their money and resources. A member of parliament in a town I lived in many years ago used to offer his van to transport the infame to hospital every evening. He was there for the funerals. He would donate food and transport for the mourners. To the people in that constituency, he was ‘a good man’ who deserved another term in office and so he was re-elected. For years that constituency remained very poor and backward.

I once went to a house of a mayor of a city in Zambia. I found dozens of political party women cadres camped at the back garden doing nothing but chatting and gossiping while being fed by the wife of the mayor. I asked what this was all about and the answer I got was, ‘This is politics.’ This is what the Zambian people have come to expect from politicians. He is a good one if he donates a truck load of millie meal to the constituents, if he dishes out money in public places or at State House in brown envelopes, if he distributes chitenge wraps, pays school fees for a desperate single mother’s child, settles a hospital bill here and there.

If this is what we want from our politicians, we should not be surprised that they will steal from the national coffers in order to maintain their reputation. They believe themselves to be benevolent Robin Hoods, only that they do not steal from the rich but from the same people whom they pretend to be helping. These politicians do not do these things in order TO HELP PEOPLE, no, no. They do it for THEMSELVES. The eye is on the next election.

ONE REALLY DOES NOT NEED TO BE A POLITICIAN IN ORDER TO BE GENEROUS.

In the United Kingdom, I have met dozens of families that sponsor children in Africa every year. They pay for these children’s education and wellbeing. They are unsung heroes who do not have much. Charities too, like World Vision, Oxfam, Water Aid etc are helping people world wide. They are not politicians. The point is this. You do not need to join politics to help people.

How come EVERY politician in Zambia is financially better off when in office than they were before they entered politics? Are they really helping the people or helping themselves?

The 44th President of the US, Barack Obama, was a social activist in Chicago, helping people. I take Obama’s example because it gives the best human motive one can ever have to join politics. Obama could have been a lawyer, and a good one for that. He could have made a lot of money from law practice and then used his money and resources to help individual families in Chicago South side. No. Obama saw that the problem his people were facing was political. It had to do with the LAWS OF THE COUNTRY. This is what motivated him to become a politician.

POLITICS IS ABOUT LAWS

I would ask the 150 members of parliament in Zambia today. ‘HONOURABLE SIR/MADAM. What law have you enacted or changed or sponsored/proposed that has helped the Zambian people?’ Zambians are still paying through their noses for EDUCATION, for HEALTHCARE. Pensioners are dying before they receive their money. Thousands of Zambians have jobs without a written contract and can be fired at any time by their employers. Millions of Zambians are homeless and a majority of those who rent have no rights at all and rentals can be hiked without notice at all if there is another tenant willing to pay more. Millions of Zambians are still without clean water. Those in the city townships like Ng’ombe, Chawama, George are still defecating in containers at night because pit-toilets are outside the house. The Zambia police have killed and maimed people and no one has ever been blamed for it. The existing laws are weak against peaceful demonstrations and protests. People are victimised even for satire as long as the President is aggrieved. The media is only free as long as it sings the ruling party’s songs. We cannot have a country where good and evil acts depend on the mood and morality of the one man in State House. The country must be above that.

Well might Isaiah lament. ‘You cannot be trusted, even in court. You lie about each other and depend on false arguments to win your cases. YOU CREATE PAIN and produce wickedness’ (Is 59:4)

What has the MP, the Mayor, the Minister, the Vice President or even the President of Zambia done to CHANGE this for the 17 million individual Zambians? How have you used the law to level the playing field so that every Zambian has a chance to succeed in life regardless of tribe, race or station in life? In August 1979, President Kaunda opened Zambia’s largest hospital, the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. Kaunda celebrated one very important piece of legislation that his UNIP government had enacted- Free healthcare at the point of need. He pointed out that without this, far fewer than 2 million Zambians would be able to see a doctor or afford a hospital visit. UNIP did that. It made a difference for every child in Zambia to get an education, every person to go to a hospital and be treated free of charge. The unions had immense power to negotiate labour conditions.

It looks like laws are only made to make life better and more comfortable for those who are already well off and in the favour of the rulers.

Why did you join politics?

Imagine you were stripped of all your power and wealth right now, would you be in a better Zambia than when you entered politics? Do you think that your children would have a good chance of making it in life without your money? If you were sick, do you think that you could afford healthcare? If you were arrested and sent to prison, do you think that you would find prison conditions better than before you took up politics? What difference have you made for Jack Chipulu, a street kid in Lusaka?

By Charles N