Mutharika fury over death rumour in Hong Kong -PM
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika is said to have been angered with reports circulating that suggest he is in bad health and rumoured dead in others.
Mutharika has been “missing” since October 30 after attending Commonwealth summit in Australia and government claims he is on an“annual leave”.
But his brother and heir apparent, Professor Peter Mutharika (PM) on arrival from Uruguay where he attended a United Nations meeting said the President was in “excellent health.”
Pesidential spokesman Hetherwick Ntaba refused to disclose Mutharika’s exact location, saying the President’s whereabouts during his official leave was not in the public interest.
But Peter revealed that President Mutharika was “in Hong Kong.”
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that Mutharika is in Hong Kong, Macao and (China’s) Guangdong province.
The President’s borther, who is Malawi’s foreign affairs minister, said Mutharika is aware of the circulating rumour that he had died.
“ I spoke to him and he is the one who informed me about this rumour that he is dead,” said PM.
The President’s brother regretted that Malawians were wishing their leader dead, saying wishing anyone to die “is worse than witchcraft.”
Another top government source that cannot be named for fear of victimisation told Nyasa Times that Presidet Mutharika was “furious” with the reports about his “missing” and “speculations about his health.”
First Lady Callista Mutharika is also reported to be “distressed” with the reports.
Mutharika had been to Asia for a routine medical check-up. He was said to be in Portugal on Sunday at one of his Mota Engil constructed mansion to continue with his vacation.
The President was scheduled to open Parliament on Monday but he will not make it.
Ntaba claimed on Tiuzeni Zoona programme aired on Zodiak Broadcasting Station on Sunday that Mutharika is in superb health.
“The President is on his annual leave and we made this public. He will be back soon,” Ntaba said, well known for denying reports of the former First Lady Ethel’s ill-helath and death.
He laughed off reports of Mutharika’s ill-health.
“The President is in good health and is not in hospital. On his way from Australia he decided to go on short leave. He will arrive shortly,” said Ntaba.
When the host Pilirani Phiri likened the President’s holiday to a parent abandoning his sick child in a hospital bed, Ntaba said Malawi will never be without problems to guarantee a President to go on holiday.
“Let’s be fair here. Should a President fail to go on holiday because there is fuel shortage in the country?” shot back Ntaba.
Informed government sources disclosed that the spectugenarian leader flew out of Hong Kong on Sunday to Portugal accompanied by his wife Callista.
Mutharika is scheduled to return back home on Sunday.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
