On the day when Europe flights to and from Maputo are prohibited, Mozambique has reported five new infections, zero hospitalizations and zero deaths from COVID-19. In other southern African countries, the situation was similar. On the contrary, most European countries have faced dramatic wave of new infections…
South African scientists have discovered and sequenced New variant of SARS-CoV-2… In doing so, they openly publicized their discovery. Instead of applause, the country was punished. Along with South Africa, neighboring countries were also punished. Instead of offering to work with Africans, European governments turned their backs and closed with their own affairs.
Borders are not closed, people are closed. Economies, societies, paths to progress are closed. The punishment we are now facing will exacerbate the terrible impoverishment that the citizens of these countries are subjected to due to the isolation caused by the pandemic.
And again, science was held hostage by politics. Again, fear clouded his mind. And again, selfishness prevailed. Lack of solidarity was already present (and naturally accepted) in shocking inequality in vaccine distribution… While a fourth and fifth dose is being discussed in Europe, the vast majority of Africans have not benefited from a single dose. African countries such as Botswana, which paid for the vaccines, were amazed to find that these vaccines were being diverted to wealthier countries.
The European continent, which claims to be the cradle of science, has forgotten the most basic scientific principles. Without proof of the geographical origin of this variant and without any proof of its true significance, European governments have imposed restrictions immediate impact on the movement of people. Governments did the easiest and least effective: they put up walls to create the false illusion of protection. It was predictable that new options would appear inside and outside the walls erected by Europe. But there is neither inside nor outside. Viruses mutate without geographical differences. There can be two senses of justice. But there are no two pandemics.
African countries were again discriminated against. It is easy to imagine the economic and social impact of these recent measures. But the south of Africa is very far away. It is no longer just a matter of lack of solidarity. It is about actions against science and against humanity.
