President Peter Mutharika has just revealed that he suffered from ‘Rheumatism’ (Nyamakazi) as he was returning from United States of America, but has assured Malawians that he will be super fine in just two weeks’ time.
Speaking during press conference at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Mutharika admitted that rheumatism attack in his right shoulder as he was returning from USA where he went to attended the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly was sole problem that prevented him from using his right hand to perform gestures like waving and greeting officials who welcomed him last Sunday at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) upon arrival.
During brief appearance at KIA, president Mutharika right hand was vividly immobile and he used his left hand for all hand gestures.
But this Friday afternoon, first time public appearance after his arrival from USA, Mutharika looked fit and well, able to use his right hand.
During the entire 135 minutes he spend with the press, President Mutharika maintained that “I have been in excellent health” adding that his doctors have assured him that he is fine more than a 30 year old person
He said rheumatism which has been troubling him around his shoulder for so many years caused his arm become numb as he was returning from USA and that was the reason why he did not use his right hand when waving and shaking hands with officials at KIA adding that he was following doctors advice not to use his right arm.
“But, it is getting better now” he assured as he raise his right arm up in the air in attempt to prove that his hand is well and functional
The Malawi leader said his hand is now at 90 percent of recovery but assured that it will reach 100 percent level of recovery just “in two weeks time.”
He said nobody can die due to his rheumatism condition and therefore any calls for him to hand over power to his deputy on incapacitation grounds are baseless adding that there is nothing serious about his health.
President Mutharika accused media for spreading false rumours about his health and indicated that he spent not even a single night in hospital during his prolonged stay in America.
He then said after the UN General Assembly, he was meeting various potential business investors who wants to explore investment opportunities in Malawi in areas of energy, agriculture as well as pesticides manufacturing.
He also defended his public relations officers saying they did their best on giving out authentic information about his whereabouts adding that he is a person to blame on anything about his prolonged stay in USA but not his officials.
The president even said the stories and noise about his health seem to him that nobody in Malawi was ever worried about his health but rather “enjoying it.”
Following prolonged stay in America after attending to 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly the Malawi social media was amassed with speculations that Mutharika was critically ill and receiving treatment following brain tumor surgery as some information alleged that he was dead.
Malawians were even more worried about Mutharika’s health when they saw him at KIA on last Sunday failing to use his right hand and his failure to speak to the crowd that thronged KIA air field just to welcome him.
In attempt move to prove that his right hand is well and functional, throughout 135 minutes he spend at the conference, Mutharika was able to take notes, grab a bottle of water and do all hand gestures using his right hand and with his left hand in some occasions.
Mutharika was welcomed in the conference hall with uncontrollably loud cheers and chants from his Democratic Progressive Party members in almost disbelief at seeing the president waving and shaking hands with cabinet ministers using his right hand.
The party excited party officials who outnumbered the journalists in the room, chanted Boma! Boma! While others shouted at members of press “Mukanene zoona” (go and tell the truth). The uncontrollable excitement which began right from the very start president Mutharika entered the room, continued up to the very end and during question time, members of press were booed when asking questions which they deemed as negative.
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