Mutharika’s gaffes at ‘Mapwevupwevu’: Calls Zambia’s Lungu is ‘President of Malawi’

The woes of old age are catching up with President Peter Mutharika, with the 76-year-old increasingly making gaffes in his speeches, the latest being at Sanjika Palace during the state banquet [Mpwevupwevu] organised in honour of Zambia President Edgar Lungu for gracing Malawi’s 51 anniversary independence celebrations.

Mutharika mistakenly referred to Lungu as President of Malawi and his wife as first lady of Malawi a development that raised eye brows and a sense of amusement from guests at the dinner.

“Your Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu President of the Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency Madam Esther Lungu First Lady of the Republic of Malawi”, saluted President Mutharika before correcting himself.

Mutharika jokingly said that there are a lot of countries that need to become part of Malawi and that he hoped Zambia was not.

“Well because everyone is trying to get a part of Malawi, hopefully Zambia is certainly not trying to do that”, said Mutharika as guests were pretending to laugh over the flat-joke.

As Malawi celebrates five decades of freedom, Lungu said it was befitting that the people of Malawi should reflect on great strides the country has made since 1964.

The Zambian leader further thanked Mutharika for inviting him to attend Malawi’s Independence Day celebrations.

President Lungu was on Sunday conferred upon Freedom of the City of Blantyre and the Zambian leader said he was greatly honoured to be a Free Person in Malawi’s commercial capital city.