Rumphi East Member of Parliament Kamlepo Kalua who is also opposition People’s Party (PP) third Vice President for the North has asked President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to stop joking with Malawians over the looming hunger.

Kamlepo’s warning follows Mutharika’s remarks made over the weekend in Mulanje where he told Malawians to start eating Mice, and grasshoppers as food supplement in view of severe food shortages this year.

The remarks attracted criticisms from all corners with others accusing President Mutharika of being inconsiderate.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Minister of Information , Commmunication Technology and Civic Education Patricia Kaliati defended Mutharika’s remarks, saying it was an innocent joke, igniting the debate further.

Reacting to the joke, Kalua told the Press that Mutharika should first censure his remarks before going to the public.

He said the hunger situation in Malawi is serious and that the President is not supposed to crack jokes with the issue, saying whatever comes out of his mouth is taken serious.