Why use left hand?

Traditionally, President Peter Mutharika has been known to actively use his right hand. However, the President yesterday stirred debate with his gesture of actively using the left hand to wave and greet people at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.

The President also simply patted Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who led his welcome party, on the shoulder, again using the left hand.

The development seemed a conspicuous oddity on his return home from attending the 71st  United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, in the USA, and extending his trip for a further two weeks.

With the background of social media speculation and rumours about the President’s health, the use of the left hand was closely watched and discussed on the social media as people shared the pictures.

Authorities vehemently quashed the reports about Mutharika’s ill-health and insisted that the President was “enjoying robust health”, saying the post-UNGA extension was necessary for the Malawi leader to meet partners who could not be accommodated during the UN meeting.

So, when the door of the chartered Qatar Airways Executive tail registration A7-CED plane opened, there was palpable tension and anxiety among the huge crowd.

For over 15 minutes, no one alighted from the plane. Nevertheless, the singing and dancing by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) loyalists did not cease.

Many who had the ill-health rumour at the back of their minds wondered whether Mutharika would look healthy enough to undertake the presidential welcome routine, including waving to the crowd, disembarking from the plane, inspecting a guard of honour mounted by Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and greeting dignitaries.

When the President finally appeared at the plane’s door on his own, and looking happy, DPP cadres led the crowd into a celebration din.

But the President’s long- awaited return home has left Malawians with more questions than answers as his use of the left hand fuelled further the speculation that his health was not well.

Mutharika heavily leaned on the left hand side of the plane’s staircase railing, when he is in fact right- handed.

When Mutharika waved to the crowd, it was noticeable that he used only his left hand, while the right hand was inactive. On similar occasions in the past, a profuse wav0e of both hands has been the normal response to such a hearty welcome from the crowd.

Everything else looked normal as the President alighted from the aircraft and few people noticed the Malawi leader’s use of the left hand when he greeted Vice-President Saulos Chilima at the foot of the plane.

The oddity did not end there. To Chilima, Mutharika only said: “Yes my brother”.

In response, the Vice-President patted him on the back in a brief hug.

But the left hand oddity was more noticeable when it came to the President greeting dignitaries in a long queue.

It also remains what the white object seen just below the President’s right hand wrist was as he left the plane and went on to the saluting dais.

Touchdown of the President’s chartered plane at 15.38pm was preceded two hours earlier by a US Air Force plane in its military colours which taxied to the cargo hangar.

However, several inquiries at KIA indicated that it had never been seen at the airport until yesterday.

But the elation did not go beyond the departure of the presidential convoy as those who witnessed the odd use of the left hand have been left with more questions than answers.

Further, Mutharika did not help matters when he did not address the gathered crowd as people had expected to put to rest the rumours that he was not well.

This was contrary to advice from several commentators, including Media Council of Malawi (MCM) which issued a statement calling for the protection of journalists, and also requested that Mutharika makes a brief statement to the nation about his visit.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Malison Ndau, who initially said the President would address Malawians on arrival, could not be drawn into commenting on the President’s peculiar gesture as his phone went unanswered. Presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalirani was also not available as his mobile phone indicated it was either off or out of network reach.

But a high ranking Cabinet minister confided in The Nation that State House would announce a date when the President would address the media and Malawians on his trip.

Mutharika returned home to an extra-ordinary welcome from DPP cadets, women, traditional dancers clad in Mulhako wa Alhomwe cloth and a horde of government officials such as ministers and diplomatic corps members.

As the saluting dais was put up and the red carpet was rolled out, the dancing and music reached a crescendo as the lyrics became even more provoking such as “mwayamba kale kutilondalonda Mulungu adzakulangani” and several others castigating the opposition for allegedly spreading rumours that Mutharika was ill.

At a snail’s pace, Mutharika sat on the left hand side of his official vehicle and waved to supporters lined up at the airport.

Along the route from KIA, many people lined the route, particularly at the Kanengo-Area 25 turn-off, M1-Salima turn-off, the Area 30-Area 10 turn-off and at the Area 18 residential area.  n