Malawi Flatulence Bill:Is It Illegal To Fart In Public In Malawi?

by NowPublic Staff | February 4, 2011 at 05:25 pm

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Malawai Farting Controversy: Malawi Lawmakers Dispute Over Legality Of Farting In Public

A public controversy between two Malawi lawmakers regarding a supposed "flatulence bill" is causing quite the stink.

Here is what the fart bill says;

Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public 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," states the Local Courts Bill, which is due to come into force next week.

Justice Minister George Chaponda says the new fart bill would criminalize farting in public and that is a good thing, according to the BBC.

"Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting," he told local broadcaster Capital Radio.

However, he was directly contradicted by Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga, who says the reference to "fouling the air" means pollution.

"How any reasonable or sensible person can construe the provision to criminalising farting in public is beyond me," he said, adding that the prohibition contained in the new law has been in place since 1929.

Either way enforcement of a farting bill would be a problem, adding a whole new twist to the phrase "silent but deadly."