But as the months progressed, he seemed to be under pressure from the more extremist elements who wanted to adopt a far more belligerent and aggressive rhetoric - to take over the rest of the country, to impose Sharia law, a very conservative reading of the Koran.
We have seen this kind of posturing from those African leaders who profess to holding degrees in violence, and the belligerent nature of Mr Mutharika's comments was noted by the diplomatic circles in his country with disastrous consequences.