[2] The actual provision against air fouling that was included in the new Penal Code Act 198 was carried over from the Nyasaland laws.
Even though flatulence was not the target of the bill, when responding to a journalist who inquired about the ban on flatulence in January 2011 on Capital Radio Malawi's popular Straight Talk program, George Chaponda, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, agreed that the legislation can essentially be interpreted as a banning farting in public places and makes it an official criminal offence.
[8] When Reuters distributed the story, saying "farting in public will no longer be just rude and discourteous to others, it will now be a crime", it was quickly picked up by the foreign press.
[10] On 4 February 2011, the BBC reported that the Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga had contradicted Chaponda, saying the legislation referred to other forms of pollution.
[4] Reporting the controversy, The Register's story was headed "Big stink over Malawi farting ban: Solicitor general challenges trouser cough clampdown".
[1] The head of Capital Radio, which had aired the interview, signed an agreement with the government on 14 February 2011 in which the media committed to refrain from reporting stories that would destroy the image and credibility of the country.
The government saw the reporting as a direct attempt by the Malawian media to discredit and embarrass the Bingu wa Mutharika administration.
A few weeks after the story made international headlines, the Malawi government Minister of Information and Civic Education, Simon Vuwa Kaunda signed an agreement with the local press with regards to reporting about the Bingu wa Mutharika administration and the country.
The request that journalists refrain from reporting stories that destroy Malawi's image and credibility both domestically and internationally without seeking clarification from the government.