Just days after President Lazarus Chakwera’s directive for cabinet ministers to actively work toward improving the lives of Malawians, the newly appointed Minister of Labour, Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, took immediate action by closing CP Feeds Company in Lilongwe due to serious labor violations.
During the swearing-n ceremony of the newly-appointed cabinet ministers on 7th January this year, President Chakwera issued a directive to his cabinet to go on the ground working towards bettering lives of Malawians.
The President said: “My advice to all whom I have chosen as ministers is clear: I did not choose you to just sit idle. I did not choose you to merely be passengers without direction. I did not choose you to just remain within the confines of your offices. I have chosen you to seek solutions to the lingering issues that others have left behind in this country with the aim that you can mend these broken bones so that Malawians can prosper moving forward. I have chosen you to ensure that as Malawians feel the pain because of the work we are doing to mend broken bones, you will travel throughout the country to gather the people of Malawi and share with them what we are doing, not to leave it to just one person to explain. I have chosen you so that the people of Malawi will see your work, not so that you will be waiting for me to come and see you. These are the things I want to see from all my ministers…”
President Chakwera clearly remarked that these instructions were non-negotiable: “My words today are not just advice, as advice can choose to be acted upon or disregarded. My words are a directive for you whom I have chosen to be new ministers and for those I have chosen to continue in their roles”, he said.
During a surprise inspection at CP Feeds Company production facility, Minister Mumba expressed outrage at the unsafe working conditions faced by employees. He noted that workers were operating without essential safety equipment, including protective boots and masks, exposing them to hazardous materials.
“This is an outright infringement of labour laws and a complete disregard for human dignity,” Mumba stated firmly. “The working conditions here are appalling. Workers’ health and safety are non-negotiable, and this company has failed at the most basic level. We cannot afford to give them time to rectify this. Operations must stop immediately.”
The minister’s concerns extended beyond inadequate safety measures; he criticized the company for providing only one toilet for female employees, labeling the setup as not only unhygienic but also a hazard. “This level of negligence is disgraceful. It’s sad that an establishment can operate with such blatant disregard for its workers,” he added.
Minister Mumba also raised concerns about the exploitation of expatriate labor, claiming that Indian nationals were being hired for jobs that could easily be filled by local Malawians. He demanded a complete list of all expatriate employees and warned against illegal displacement of local workers.
Reinforcing the government’s commitment to improving labor standards, Mumba noted that such blatant violations would no longer be tolerated. “This government stands for the welfare and dignity of its people. We will not allow this kind of treatment to continue,” he affirmed.
Faced with the minister’s stern reprimand, representatives from CP Feeds Company promised to address the labor violations and comply with safety and health regulations. However, Mumba made it clear that operations would remain suspended until full compliance is demonstrated.
