Malawi government has warned the people speculating on the country’s president’s health will be “brought to book.”
Rumors about President Mutharika’s health following his extended stay in the United States after attending the UN General Assembly in New York were dismissed by the government in a statement.
“The president is enjoying very robust health and is continuing to carry on his duties” a statement said.
The Malawian President spoke at the UN on the 25th of September and has been out of the country since then.
The government statement, posted on Facebook, and signed by the government spokesperson, said there was no need for people to panic.
The statement added that the rumors “were baseless, malicious and sickening”.
It also reminded “all Malawians that whilst the laws of this country provide for freedom of expression, those rights ought to be exercised responsibly and within the law.
“Spreading false rumours about the health of the president is a criminal offence.”
Local activist Gerald Kampanikiza told the privately-owned Nyasa Times newspaper that the government should provide video evidence to disprove the rumors, the BBC reports.
“Take a video feed of Mr Mutharika and post [that] rather than his last public appearance photo as you are doing,” Mr Kampanikiza is quoted by the newspaper as saying.
Malawians online have been using the hashtag #BringBackMutharika to call for the return of their president.
