Daliso Chaponda's dad wanted to ban farting

Daliso Chaponda’s hit appearance on Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday has brought a bizarre old story back into the spotlight…that his politician father once wanted to ban farting.

George Chaponda made worldwide headlines six years ago – when he was  Malawi’s Justice Minister – after he made the call on local radio.

Saying that the no-parp rule would help promote ‘public decency’, he said: ‘Would you like to see people farting in public anywhere?

‘Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting. Nature can be controlled. It becomes a nuisance if people fart anywhere.’

He reportedly blamed the issue on democracy, adding: "It was not there during the time of dictatorship because people were afraid of the consequences. Now because of multi-partyism or freedom, people would like to fart anywhere.’

However he later withdrew his comments… as it appeared he got the wrong end of the stick about legislation about ‘fouling air’ - that had been designed to tackle bigger menaces such as burning tyres, rubbish and old computers.

Chaponda Sr, now 74, also met Madonna in 2010, when she was helping build a children’s hospital in Malawi, from where she adopted her children David Banda and Mercy.

More seriously, Chaponda was fired as agriculture minister in February amid allegation of corruption over a maize deal. A suitcase containing the equivalent of £180,000 in various currencies was reportedly seized from his house. However investigators have still not questioned him over the incident. 

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Published: 1 May 2017