Mutharika says Malawians are ‘too cold’

President Peter Mutharika has hit out at Malawians for being too “cold” to each other saying they are only warm when interacting with strangers.

The Malawi leader was speaking in Thyolo where he presided over the elevation of Traditional Authority Ngolongoliwa to position of Senior Chief.

In his speech, Mutharika said the country does not deserve to continue being called a Warm Heart of Africa because its citizens have stopped being friendly to each other.

“Can we seriously say we are the warm heart of Africa? Or we are warm to strangers while being cold to each other. We need to stop castigating each other if we are to have peace in this country,” said Mutharika.

The president also subtly hit back at people calling for his resignation saying they are opposing for the sake of opposing.

Said Mutharika: “The problems we are facing are for all Malawians and are also being faced all over the world. We can only overcome them if we work together and love one another.”

On the maize crisis, Mutharika insisted that the staple grain is available in Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) depots across the country but it is being stolen by unscrupulous people.

“How can one steal maize so that other people should die? Is that wise? That is stupid,” said Mutharika and promised to make a statement on the crisis.

On Ngolongoliwa, the Malawi leader praised the chief calling him a “dictionary” for the Lhomwe people and said he was loyal to Mutharika before he became president.

“When we were in opposition some people were talking ill of me saying that no one in Thyolo wants the professor, but chief Ngolongoliwa remained loyal to me,” said Mutharika.

He however warned chiefs who beat people and grab land from them that if they continue to do the evil acts he will give them a “holiday”.