I have 'Eradicated' AIDS, Says President Mutharika

Malawi's President, Bingu wa Mutharika, says his government has 'eradicated' HIV and AIDS in the Southern African Development Community member state, becoming the first-ever African President to declare his country HIV and AIDS-'free'.
Mutharika, speaking during Malawi 8th Agriculture Fair in Blantyre on Thursday, told the country that, among other successes, his administration has 'eradicated' the problem of HIV and AIDS.
"My government has achieved a number of key things over a limited space of time. I have constructed roads. I have eradicated the problem of hunger. I have ALSO eradicated AIDS," said Mutharika to a stunned audience.
Malawi's HIV prevalence rate average is at 12 percent, though another substantial part of the country has registered a 10 percent HIV prevalence rate, according to statistics from the Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Mutharika serves as the Minister for Nutrition, HIV and AIDS.
It is not clear whether, now that Malawi has no cabinet ministers following Mutharika's dissolution of his cabinet last Friday, the President remains minister responsible in the wake of the development.