President Markets Malawi During UN Visit

Malawi is "nurturing" democracy and is committed to the rule of law and a free press, President Peter Mutharika told the Council on Foreign Relations on September 24. Mutharika, who is among the record-number of  leaders taking part in this year's United Nations General Assembly, said he would welcome that return home of his prececessor, Joyce Banda, who he defeated in last year's election and whose supporters have expressed fears she is being persecuted by Mutharika's administration. At CFR, the president discussed Malawi's economic difficulties and the worsening food crisis that threatens over 2.8 million people to hunger, an example, he said, of the devastating impact of climate change.