President Malawi: I’m Not Dead … My Vacation!

When President Binguwa Mutharika Malawi 78-year-old not long look, people are worried he was seriously ill or even died.

Rumors circulated in the African country’s capital, Lilongwe, that Mutharika has flown to China to undergo treatment in order to save his life. Rumors began to interfere in such a widely and then last Monday, as reported by the Daily Mail, Tuesday (15/11/2011), Mutharika also held a press conference by telephone. That’s just to prove that he, in fact, still alive and well.

The President spoke from Hong Kong to a group of political reporters. One of the newspaper Nyasa Times. “Mutharika, reportedly angered by rumors about his death, told reporters that he was in a healthy condition. His wife, Callista, too,” the daily reported. The President insists he only took his annual leave for 30 days.

Absence in the country has angered people who are facing economic crisis.

Malawi Presidential Spokesman Hetherwick Ntaba and Vice President Yunus Mussa seeking a press conference via telephone. Mussa Mutharika called on his cell phone and handed the phone to journalists. By telephone. he said he had decided to spend a 30 day leave in Hong Kong.

Malawi media reports, the President was suffering from a mysterious illness and was being treated at a top private hospital in Hong Kong. However, his brother, Aurther-Peter Mutharika, a foreign minister and his successor, said the President just enjoy shopping with his wife.

Malawi has a chronic shortage of fuel during the last few weeks and that made prices soar more than 30 percent. Experts fear it could lead to widespread civil unrest amid rising inflation.

This year was a traumatic period for Mutharika, who has ruled Malawi for seven years. The controversial leader condemned the international community in July when dozens of people died after he was deploying troops to face the popular protests against his regime.

In August he was throwing a tantrum by firing all the members of his cabinet. He then pointed to new people, including several members of his own family, in most positions.