DPP symbol spoofed over Mutharika’s  ‘let Malawians make a meal out of mice, grasshoppers’

A Democratic Progressive Party  (DPP) logo  which has been spoofed on social media as some Malawians replaces the three maize cobs with a picture of a mouse and a grasshopper has gone viral on the social media.

The ‘new’ logo is apparently mocking President Peter Mutharika for  what he said that starving citizens had no reason to go hungry when grasshoppers and mice were available  for their consumption. His statement over the his alternative food in the face of the hunger situation in the country.

While speaking during a political rally over the weekend, Mutharika urged Malawians to be resourceful in their search for food and money, while claiming that his administration is under pressure to find solutions to the issue of hunger that has gripped the souther African nation over the past few months.

Mutharika advised Malawians to change their eating habits suggesting they could also survive on mice and grasshoppers.

According to some social media commentators,  Mutharika’s  statement could be a mockery to some religious groups in Malawi especially adventists who do not eat such delicacies and are well established in Mutharika’s own home district, Thyolo.

Moslems too do not eat such delicacies and are likely treat the statement with contempt.

Some people in the social media feel the statement was taken out of context.

Sosten Chimimba writing on facebook blamed the media for concentrating on what he called a joke by President Mutharika out of the good things he talked about at the said public rally.

“The media only concentrate on the jokes by the president and it has gone viral.  What do you benefit from that?” he queried.

However, some Malawians feel it was insensitive of the Head of State to make such a statement considering the gravity of hunger situation in the country and that mice and grasshoppers can not replace the staple, maize.

Reports indicate that more than 6milion people will be affected by hunger this year in Malawi.
Malawi has an estimated population of 6milion people.

Commentators feel government has not demonstrated and convincing plans to deal with the hunger situation the country is facing.

Mutharika himself, has also previously claimed that his government had managed to raise just $63m to use in the purchase of maize, with $237m still being needed in order to feed the almost 8.4m citizens in danger of starvation.

While stating that Malawi’s food production would decrease by 50% this year, Mutharika at the time assured citizens that no-one would die of hunger in the country.

The development followed just a day after Opposition MPs questioned government’s  plans to purchase eight new vehicles as part of President Mutharika’s convoy

Opposition MPs questioned government’s priorities in light of the country’s ailing economy, stating that unnecessary allocations were being added to the budget while  Malawians were on the brink of starvation.