A Malawian diplomat who once described Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as an 'idiot' will no longer be posted to Harare, Foreign Minister George Chaponda said Tuesday.

Thoko Banda turned down the posting as high commissioner on Monday, but Chaponda told state television that President Peter Mutharika already had "plans to drop Thoko Banda from the diplomatic mission".

A Malawian diplomat who once reportedly described Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as an "idiot" said Monday he had turned down a posting as his country's top envoy to Harare.

"I am sure there are other Malawians more amenable to serving at that particular post at this particular time," Thoko Banda said in a statement seen by Agence France Presse.

Seven people including one child have been trampled to death by rampaging elephants that strayed from the southern Liwonde National Park into a nearby village, police said Tuesday.

The two beasts charged into Nyambi village, trampling an eight-year-old child, a 75-year-old man and five others who failed to outpace the gigantic mammals.

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has shot down a proposal to hike cabinet ministers' pay to almost triple his own salary, a spokesman said Tuesday, amid austerity measures following foreign aid flight.

The cabinet secretary asked for a six-fold increase of the 20 ministers' salaries to $8,800 a month to cover the higher cost of living, according to presidential spokesman Frederick Ndala.

Malawi's new President Peter Mutharika pardoned 403 prisoners on Saturday ahead of celebrations to mark 50 years since the country gained independence from Britain.

"The pardon of the prisoners is a symbol of forgiveness as the country commemorates its golden jubilee of independence" on Sunday, the home affairs ministry said in a statement.

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has fired the country’s army chief, General Henry Odillo, his office said Wednesday.

Odillo had in 2012 reportedly refused to take over government after the sudden death of then-president Bingu wa Mutharika, the current president's brother.

Malawi’s newly-elected President Peter Mutharika on Thursday named half of his 20-member cabinet, nearly a month after the chaotic elections that brought him to office.

Mutharika, who two weeks ago tapped former finance minister Goodall Gondwe to resume his position, has brought back several other old faces, including Henry Mussa as labor minister and Jean Kalilani to take care of health.

Malawi's new President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday vowed to crack down on corruption after a multi-million-dollar graft scandal rocked his predecessor's administration and led donors to suspend $150 million in aid.

An audit ordered by former President Joyce Banda found that $30-million in state funds had been looted by officials in less than six months last year.

Peter Mutharika was sworn in Saturday as Malawi's new president after his arch-rival and predecessor Joyce Banda congratulated him and urged the country to move on from the disputed vote.

Mutharika, the brother of president Bingu wa Mutharika who died in office in 2012, appealed to the 11 other presidential candidates to "join me in rebuilding the country" after some -- including Banda -- contested the results.

Malawi's disputed presidential elections ran into fresh trouble Thursday after a judge due to rule on when the results should be released had to step down from the case.

The hitch means it is now unclear whether court challenges to the disputed vote will be considered before the Friday midnight deadline for releasing the results.