Tunis, Tunisia- The coronavirus pandemic has spread to at least 205 counties and territories, with the worldwide death toll from the virus surpassing 55 000 on April, 3. Countries like Italy, Spain, the U.S, and the U. K are the most hard-hit by this virus. Stamping out the virus has become thus the world’s preoccupation. And the fight against this novel coronavirus is the immediate concern of every government.
Tunisia has so far registered 495 cases and 18 deaths. Although the situation, for the time being, is not that catastrophic in comparison to other countries in Africa and the wider Middle East region, it remains nevertheless worrisome. At this juncture of time weak political and economic management will be under scrutiny, as coronavirus and its economical and social reverberations roll over the region.
After six decades of independence, Tunisians have inherited poor health and economic infrastructure. Tunisia’s hospitals and health equipments are not in keeping up with this pandemic.
Decades of autocratic, corrupt, (incompetent and uncaring) governments, coupled with social unrest after the revolution have impacted Tunisians badly.
When Ben Ali fled the country in 2011, Tunisians were left with empty coffers. And this fact adds only to our suffering. The acting Fekhfekh‘s government has inherited a long track record of economic mismanagement and a disconcerting lack of trust in public institutions.
In spite of this grim picture, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. This health crisis has united the government, only a few months after its inception, a government various analysts deemed it will shatter owing to the conflicting orientations of the coalition-made political parties. But thanks to the novel coronavirus, all differences have been brushed aside. From now on the pun runs the following: deliver or step down.
May God Almighty soon put an end to this pandemic.
