Malawians ask President Mutharika to apologise over ‘eat mice and grasshoppers’

Some Malawians have taken up on social media to ask President Peter Mutharika to say sorry over his “joke” gone wrong that people should start eating mice and grasshoppers in view of severe food shortages this year.

President Mutharika: Let starving Malawians make a meal with mice and grasshoppers
President Mutharika: Let starving Malawians make a meal with mice and grasshoppers

At least half of  Malawi population of 16 million need relief food this year because food production has gone down by 42 per cent due to El Nino powered phenomenon weather which has caused severe drought in some parts of the country and severe flooding in other areas.

However, writing on social media, some Malawians have described Mutharika as insestive, saying he cannot joke on real time and real life issues.

“Him and his wife and step son are busy eating tax payers sponsored spaghet, rice, sausages, beef…and he is telling us to go out and hunt mice and catch grasshoppers for food, what type of President is he?” reads one comment on Facebook.

Mutharika or State House have not responded to the fierce criticisms but Minister of Information Patricia Kaliati says Malawians have missed the humour in the joke.

“The criticism directed at innocent jokes that the president cracked at a recent development rally in Mulanje that people should eat mice as part of their food supplement is thoughtless and unwarranted. It speaks of fault finding of the extreme nature,” says Kaliati in a statement.

Kaliati, who is also government spokersperson,  says for anybody to suggest that such a President has abdicated his responsibility of looking after his people simply because he referred jokingly to mice as a food supplement is to sink Malawi politics to new levels.

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Jelbin Makamo
Jelbin Makamo
7 years ago

The so called president MUST apologise without delay spinning this won’t work. I too heard this on etv here in SA and my friend (South African) was asking me if the Malawian president is normal upstairs because here in SA no one eats a rat not at all i bet if you can find one. Therefore like someone said and like i have been Saying before, the so called President who is not a presidential material should be very careful when opening his mouth in front of media cameras for the sake of our country’s reputation. What an inept and… Read more »

vavlov
vavlov
7 years ago

If it is true that the Malawi’s president said people should eat mice and grasshoppers, it means he looks down on Malawians, as inferior beings. Does he eat mice and grasshoppers himself? This is unbelievable, but knowing how docile Malawians are, they will continue to sing and clap for the man who doesn’t even care about them. His remarks imply Malawians are very desperate salvages and can eat anything, except him. Amazing

mtumodzi
mtumodzi
7 years ago

Kaziulika or whatever, is peter nutrionist? those words should be uttered by Mrs Mary Shaba NOT the president. president must give hope to the people osati kujoka pa nkhani yanjala.

Gonthankutu
Gonthankutu
7 years ago

Malawians are a laughing stock. Atcheya used to call women including Joyce Banda D7s, was that an issue?

The Analyst
The Analyst
7 years ago
Reply to  Gonthankutu

“Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. Right is right even if no one is doing it.” – Saint Augustine

Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
7 years ago
Reply to  The Analyst

Well said.

Lion Biko
7 years ago

Ecclesiasticus 23:17
A conversation with a fool is repulsive because he make a joke about serious matters.
His cursing and his swearing make the hair stands on end, when such man argue others stop their ears.

CONCERNED CITIZEN
CONCERNED CITIZEN
7 years ago

This can not be taken for an innocent joke. This so called joke, is on international news. Other countries have broadcast this on their TV and radio stations. I personally heard about this on radio Botswana. The president needs to be careful what he says in public.This is making Malawi to be a laughing stoke on the international community.

YYYYY
YYYYY
7 years ago

Take it or leave it. The president is not forcing anyone to eat ziwala or mbewa. He only suggested. Mwandibowa kwambiri amene mukulimbana ndi zimenezi. Anaiwala kunena kuti tidzidyanso nsima ya madeya/gaga. Kapena chaka chino chikhala choyamba inuyo kudya zoterezi. Shut up!!

Mika Kumbire
Mika Kumbire
7 years ago

No need for the President to apologise to all Malawians. He can only apologise to Seventh Day Adventist and Moslem leadership through the advisor on religious affairs Apostle Khomviwa. I am from Lilongwe and grew up eating Mice. Grasshoppers and mphalabungu. I don’t feel offended at all. As for jokes; Even Bakili Muluzu made stupid jokes about a small baby who was raped by advising the rapists “to rape the mother” instead. (Mwa mwana mumvamo chiani? Mayi wake anali kuti?). He made similar overboard jokes about HIV kuti azimayi chitani deam as if it was only women spreading HIV. It… Read more »

Mtondoli wa Jonazi
7 years ago
Reply to  Mika Kumbire

Mika Kumbire – dude, if you grew up eating mice – good for you. Some of us don’t and will never do, therefore it is indeed offensive to some of us both culturally and morally. However, that is not the point. What people are concerned with is the impression he created. He seems to say that his government does not care to help resolve the hunger issue. That joke was misplaced! Period. Secondly, if Muluzi gaffed about raping babies, it does not make it right for Mutharika to do the same about something equally as serious. If someone says or… Read more »

chief activist
7 years ago

HON kaliati ya the govt.sporkesperson aka govt zealot,,,,,,ivin if yo boss is wrong yu wuld still seal his wrongs with yo socalled loud mouthed gobbels aroma, its high time ppo have had such nosense …if this so caled mice nd grasshopper twint attracted ppoz discomfort yu wuld have pause and reflected the problem….osat ixo muyankhula apoi ixo

Ntchona
Ntchona
7 years ago

MR president this is a joke gone so wrong. Take responsibility for the misshap, especially if you yourself are taking decent meals everyday but your people are not

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