Malawi Cables
Minister of Labour Mumba has come under heavy criticism for allegedly abusing his powers to shut down private companies under the pretext of poor working conditions. Several business owners, speaking on condition of anonymity, claim that Mumba is using labour laws as a weapon against those who refuse to finance President Lazarus Chakwera and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ahead of the September 16 elections.
According to sources, before these closures, Mumba reportedly sent advance delegations to solicit monetary and material contributions for MCP’s campaign. Companies that refused to comply soon found themselves facing abrupt shutdowns, often with media present to cover the events. Some business owners accuse Mumba of displaying open hostility, with reports of him insulting individuals on camera during these closures.
The affected business community argues that rather than being coerced into funding a political campaign, they would prefer to pay fines and address any legitimate labour law violations. Many also believe Mumba is selectively targeting businesses linked to opposition figures while sparing those owned by MCP supporters.
“Look at how many businesses owned by MCP sympathizers are operating despite worse violations than ours. Our only crime was refusing to fund the MCP campaign, and now we are paying the price,” said an Asian businessman who spoke to our publication.
Critics argue that the Chakwera administration has failed to improve public sector working conditions, create jobs, or uplift Malawians’ livelihoods. Instead, they claim the government is using its machinery to pressure struggling businesses into financing its political survival.
