Malawi to criminalise public farting?

Lawmakers in Malawi will reportedly next week debate a new law to criminalise farting in public.

According to AFP, the Democratic Progressive Party hopes to amend an existing anti-pollution law first introduced in 1929, which has never been enforced by the authorities to refer to flatulence.

That law states: "Any person who voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."

Justice and constitutional affairs minister George Chaponda told Capital Radio: "The government has a right to ensure public decency. We are entitled to introduce order in the country.

"Would you like to see people farting in public anywhere? It was not there during the time of dictatorship because people were afraid of the consequences. Now because of multipartism or freedom, people would like to fart anywhere."

He added that "nature can be controlled" and that people "should go to the toilet instead of farting in public".

However, according to Metro, solicitor general Anthony Kamanga disagreed with Chaponda's interpretation of the 1929 law, stating that the clause relates to pollution.