Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre: The paradise shell blanketing earth’s living hell
Blantyre is now graced by an opulent giant structure, which towers the core of Malawi’s commercial city. Atop these tonnes of brick and mortar, the then popular Chayamba Building, Development House, Delemere are literally dwarfed. The financial-hub, Victoria Avenue looks like a strip when one stands there.
The splendour of the structure is not only on the outside, inside is just another out of this world ambiance mixed with captivating designs, spectacular artworks on walls and not to mention the comfortable furniture. Many are tempted to confirm that in there, is the reason why the name luxury exists, nothing but a complete paradise seasoned, with aromas that one’s nose is continuously trying to sieve.
However, this week some groups of employees recently dismissed at varied intervals of the day approached Nyasa Times to reveal the under carpet on-goings about this structure housing Amaryllis Hotel.
The hotel is just months old since its opening for service. It also accommodates Food Lovers Market, a popular South African supermarket operated within a franchised grocery stores and convenience stores with other shops in Lilongwe and most of Southern Africa.
As per training, staff in the hospitality sector smile to customers as a way of making them comfortable and for them to feel at home.
But at Amaryllis Hotel, behind those glittering teeth of smiles are individuals suffering from threats, disrespectful outbursts, abuse and high uncertainty of job security.
In sharp contrast, the hotel’s general manager Yusuf Shiraz Jr. has sternly denied existence of workers’ rights violations.
Giving their recount about working for Amaryllis Hotel a group of current and former employees, which requested for confidentiality in fear of their security and jobs, says employees are fired at the hotel on a daily basis.
Some of their crimes are trying to get some fresh air after working in sweltering heat, going to the toilet during working hours, having lunch or supper within the hotel structure, slight delays when reporting for duties, using the elevator when the bosses are in, others deemed as rude when they try to elaborate issues to bosses.
Highlights on the conflicts was attributed to communication breakdown and language differences.
“With the queues on our roads, some of us missed reporting to work by just 4 minutes and we have been axed. Their view is that when the bosses speak and we answer back we are rude but there are many times when their directives or decisions are wrong. When we try to advise them accordingly we are fired,” they unanimously said.
What is left for the remnants is to only agonise on when and how their journey will end at Amaryllis Hotel, which to most is an unbearable psychological torture.
They further laid bare that the hotel has international staff in positions that many Malawians are qualified for, like chefs and maintenance services.
“There is a chef called Zahir and a service maintenance individual called Abdul, we have doubts if these people have work permits. Through you Nyasa Times, we would like the Department Immigration and Citizenship Services to conduct detailed investigations not only on Amaryllis but the hotel industry as a whole. The reason is, many international individuals are taking away jobs from Malawians yet several of the 18 million of us are very qualified for those posts,” said the group.
They then appealed to the Government to safeguard workers’ rights and the Malawi labour market as there is continued exploitation since some employers either opt for cheap labour or non-qualified people, a development that compromises quality services and Malawi’s national image.
The country has several rogue employers who off-load employees, taking advantage of the many people who are desperate to earn a living
Said the group, “There are a lot of issues, those people of colour are given more wages and benefits for the same jobs we do. But it is only us (Malawians) who always get fired. Much as we have requested for confidentiality to you (Nyasa Times) because of possible reprisals, we have initiated the process of speaking out for employees especially those working for non-indigenous Malawians let us not suffer in silence any longer.”
Amaryllis Hotel is owned by Yusuf Shiraz. The hotel’s hierarchy has Yusuf Shiraz Jr. as General Manager, his wife managing operations of Food Lovers market and his mother as an influential management advisor.
Much as the group is contemplating of taking the issue of unfair dismissal to the Industrial Relations Court, they are appealing to the Malawi Government to conduct labour inspections to see to it that working conditions for workers in the country are humane.
In a very brief interview when contacted, the young Shiraz denied the narratives from the former employees saying they were only a frustrated after their exit from the magnificent hotel.
“We look for productivity and nothing else,” he said cutting the interview short.
Newly appointed Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Honourable Lilian Patel assured workers in Malawi that their rights are there to be protected at all times but asked for more time to specifically address the Amaryllis Hotel issue.
As it stands, more people will continue to be hired and fired en masse within the current imposing but slowly tainting paradise shell in Malawi’s commercial capital, Blantyre.
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If you Do not like your employers just leave, simple. Why make it racial, this is the 21st Century you cant blame every problem on race. If anything thank him for actually accomplishing to build a decent hotel. Some people may have bad habits and don’t we all, but don’t hate on a mans success.
My humble request to my fellow Malawians, please stop being jealousy for nothing. I have read the story and followed all comments but all I see is envy and lies. I have worked with the owners of the Hotel for ages but none of the above allegations are true. Even the ones who claim to have worked at the Hotel a few weeks ago do not know anything as they claim. These are frustrated ex-employees who were fired for theft.
Shiraz Yusuf is very arrogant and rude, those who have worked with him at Ernest & Young know him, he smokes weed, his behaviour is influenced by drugs. He has the money and Money can buy anything even the Law enforcers, thats why he can do anything and when his peace is threatened he uses his money to bribe those in Authority. I doubt if Lilian Patel can handle Shiraz she is weak and lame, Shiraz needs Mad people like Kapito of Consumers Rights and the person in the personality of Martha Chizuma the Ombudsman who is also a member of MHRC. I believe Martha Chizuma should be contacted by the Complainants to look into their issue, also the ACB should be involved to look into the affairs of foreign workers who are fraudlently working without permission. Immigration is seriously under the Payroll of rich Pakistan Asians and contacting them will not yield anything because there are more illegal Pakistanis in Limbe and Lilongwe being kept in safehouses known by people working for Immigration. Some of these Pakistanese are a security risk to our Country. I wish our Trade Union was Vibrant,Unionists can lockout Shiraz in his office and treat him in a way that he will regret why he was born, we are watching out the situation and Shiraz must be disciplined in one way or another because he doesnt own Malawi, he can be deported even if he claims that he is a third generation Malawian Asian.
You are Right and True Even MRA should question the income of Shiraz Yusuf from were did he got that kind of Money to Build this Hotel it is Not fRom Right sources it is fRom Tax Frauds and Money Laundring
The is a crook at one time he was involved in selling drugs. If the government can go deeper they will find the source of his capital.
If you want to know he obtained loan from nbm
That was just a cover up. He is a smart crook
Yes that’s correct he treats Malawians like shitt just because he has money and is able to bribe government officials when he is in trouble.
He is a big time crook and ozunza antchito nzake alinso ndi hotel just after crossroads hotel. vuto lake ma biggie oti agwire ntchito pa za makhalidwe ao ozunza a Malawi amakatapakonso komweko.
It’s very simple if you feel that the mwenyes are not treating employees well do not work for them. The mwenyes are not forcing you to work for them . Go and work with your fellow indigenous Malawians. I employ 8 workers and out of 8 workers 6 have been caught stealing on more than one occasion. I haven’t fired them because I’m fearing that if I fire them and get replacement workers they might be worse and steal more than the ones I have at the moment. I have accepted that this is how it is and tried to move on. You are only hearing from one side of the story.
Foseki
What we are saying is that this is our Country. Thise Amwenye should not take advantage that we have have allowed them to do business here.
If we rise up we will do as IDi Amini did in Uganda.
They steal because you pay them peanuts 🥜. Try to improve your salary and you will see the change. Please don’t be greedy.
I pay one worker twice what I pay the other both of them were caught stealing.
The Story is True 100% As we Malawian should Not be working for these Asian People who mistreat there Employees if Malawian do Not work they can NOT run opreations and Employees of the Hotel should form a UNION to fight against the same ans Report Issue of several nature to gkvt about the Hotel contaminated food which might be sold to the public or Restaurants Super Market Food which is can be expiry Food
If malawians STOP going to the Hotel they will Have NO business and you will see the Hotel is Deserted
Employees shiuld be also recording the Treatment and Abusive Launguge used by Superiors
The Food Lovers Super Market it self is TOO EXPENSIVE compsre to shoprite and spar
So Dear Malawians please take precations before you Join Any Asian or Indian Companies
too bad
Our country is so fucked up. I can’t blame these foreigners and asians to be precise for ill treating indigenous malawians because this is what everybody else would do when they have money and power, this kinda shit happens everywhere. The chief reason that these disgruntled ex employees aim to achieve at the end of the day is to tarnish the image of the owners with the hope that either the government closes down the business or customers seize to patronize the facility which in any case makes no sense and can not happen at all.
You are a coon and an imbecile
It can Happend Close Down the Business and Stop Patronize these kind of Employers
Mr Editor; I have realized that the writer of the article has used a word which I feel he doesn’t know what it means the word in question is PEOPLE of COLOUR he has used it to mean non Africans or foreigners yet the people he is talking about are Malawians of Indian Pakistan origins.
The term “person of colour” is today primarily used in the United States to describe any person who is not considered white, including in various points in US history, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans and others. The term emphasizes common experiences of systemic racism.
Just open your own hotels. Malawians instead of coming together to build business empires, you find a family with two little kids building a huge mansion to live in at a cost of a commercial. There are very few indians who build huge mansions, and when they do, you can find three or four brothers sharing the same space.
Thats why Malawians build aliyense townhouses with 4 or 5 units whereas Indians will put money together and build something with 40 to 50 units.
Our selfishness will never help. We don’t challenge these Indians and we prefer less risky businesses.
agree
No wonder Amini Chased the Amwenye in Uganda.
and the Ugandans want the Asians back and the Zimbabwe wants the white farmers back but these guys have moved on they do not want to return
No one wants you in Uganda
Utonama
Owners of this hotel with that much experience should know better.
Just hire a good Human Resource I’m sure you have one but get a better one (Indigenous Malawian) and close the chapter.
A lot of Asian owned companies that don’t have these issues come up have good Human Resource like RK, Nuline Textiles , Victoria Hotel , Sheets & Metals Industry , OG Plastic , Siku Transport etc the list goes on .
You need a listening and caring Human Resource manager to do the job as he will handle things better.
The complaints here are trivial. I will also fire you if you are giving excuses of traffic for coming late every day. What you need to do is to adjust the time you go to bed and wake up. We will never develop if we have this comfort mentality; money never comes easy.
Where we have issues with employers and or foreigners, we need to be objective and address them following existing procedures.
Lazy chaps!
Foseki
Go back to India. We know how you got your capital by selling Chamba. By the way we also know that you don’t pay the appropriate tax
I am happy that Amwenye akuzunza amalawi. When some of us Malawians running businesses employ fellow Malawians and treat them well they never give it their best and even steal from us. So this is good news. Maybe they will one day appreciate working for fellow Malawians.
Very true. When employed by fellow Malawian, we become lazy, looking for opportunity to steal and zero job ethics. When the owner is not directly involved in day to day running of the business ndiye nanji
Amwenye also steal from The government by dogging tax
This is very true
Unfortunately most companies are owned by Asians and they do support each other. In most of these companies working conditions are appalling. There is also a big difference between companies owned by Moslems and those by Hindus. Moslems mistreat their employees but Hindus rarely.This DPP govt. can’t take action because these politicians are bank-rolled by the same asians through govt. tenders (eg Police Uniforms tender). It starts from the Head, What do you expect below??? Its a chain, thus No Action can be taken. The best is to cut off the head and see what happens next!!!! Its the local man suffering but the same is brainwashed and can’t see so Why complain??? Wake up first and know what is happening!!!!
Very True these muslim employers are very rude and arrogant egositic also if you reply them back on there faces they do not like it they think we malawians do not have any right to talk or speak out
According to the Muslims thry think they onky have the Brains yes they are useing there Brains for Tax Frauds , Forex Frauds , Tender Corruptions etc the List goes on and on the president of Malawi has got powers to cancel all the Malawian Passports given to Foreigners and Cancel All the PRP granted to foreigners
I am thinking of a comment. Wait a moment!
I used to work there as from last week. The hotel is keeping a family who came from Italy and has coronavirus
I am just concerned about other stuff and visitors as they could easily get it
If you ” used” to how do you know about it. Also did you test them to verify they have coronavirus
It’s good that you were fired. You are a very reckless employee. Otherwise report this to the DHO or police if at all your story is true
This is a serious allegation.
“Used to work there as from last week” Ndiye kuti chani? Stop wild allegations which can just increase the fear in people koma zili baseless. On the other hand, don’t you think you are positive too having interacted with this family? Did you say you are concerned about other “STUFF?”
If the hotel is keeping the family who have come from Italy why are you blaming the hotel owners you fool its the immigration in Malawi who let them in and presumably they were not put under quarantine
True indeed that foreign staff in this hotel and several others should be scrutinized for work permits. Most of these have found themselves in these jobs aided by the DPP administration.
Our Hotel Training School (or whatever it’s called these days) has trained hundreds of our young men and women who end up doing menial jobs in lodges, some of which are close to brothels. We need Affirmative action in some sectors of our economy otherwise we will one of these days find ourselves dwarfed by Asians, Chinese, Lebanese etc, etc. This love of money by our leadership at the expense of Malawians must stop.
I don’t know how well acquainted you are with the training school. Unfortunately everyone that comes out from the school knows how to cook the same 6 dishes which doesn’t add diversity and is terrible for competition. Sometimes that is why our hotels opt for people with more exposure. At the end of the day it is a business.
Most patrons at this hotel are indigenous Malawians and just appeal for them to boycot the hotel, this hotel will collapse
The same is Happening at Mota-Engil. White guys are given more wages and privileges that local stuff, yet their duties are the same. When a local employee asks for salary adjustment, they are told to freely look for other Jobs out there.
The FD, MD, HR Bosses and project managers are racists. Only consider foreign workers as most important.
MOTA-Engil are stupid Portuguese brought in the Country by the Mutharikas, its avery corrupt Company, Constructing sub standard roads, they are here because of Corrupting Government Officials and its a Company that is not fit to be in Malawi, time is coming they will be treated accordingly. The Portuguese are un repentant Europens very stupid and racists.
Bvutonso ndife aMalawi timafuna kuti tikalembedwa ntchito tidzigwira m’mene tkufunira ifeyo osati eni ake amene atilembawo timayiwala kuti ife ndiolembedwa mumayesa pa khomo pa amanu chonsecho ife ndiamene tinakapempha kuti tidzigwira ntchito pamenepo ,ngati ukuona kuti pa malo pano paku tentha umangochoka wekha osati udikire wina akuuze kuti matako akupsa .Bvuto lina ndilakuti aMalawi amene muli ndi ndalama zambiri mukulimbana ndi kusunga dzindalama m’malo mochita business ngati amwenye kuti muzitukula dziko lanu mudzithandiza anthu akuda anzanu koma ayi ntchito matana ndi kusunga dzindalama ,ngati sitisintha kaganizidwe aMalawi tidzingodandaula mpaka kalekale chifukwa amwenye ndi amene akulemba anthu ambiri ntchito kusiyana ndi anakuda inu ,inu mukati mwalemba nzanu ntchito ndiya m’nyumba adzukuphikirani ,adzikuchapilani inunso muli antchito amene shupiti mxi mumandikwiyisa bwanji
All these racist amwenye need to be chased out of Malawi.
My making those comments you are the one who is a racist bigot
The problem with you guys is if its a mwenye you will start making funny comments. If it is your own fellow Malawian you will keep quiet. I hire a guard from a Malawian guard company they never pay on time and sometimes I have to give guard from my own pocket Money because he hasn’t got money for food. The guard is forced to come even when he is sick otherwise they deduct money
Very true Smith. Some Malawian bosses become angry whenever asked about salary even after working for two months without pay. I know some Indians who are very good to their employees. Let us not just generalize.
So you are a Mwenye?
That’s right Let’s rise up and chase this Amwenye. You they say Dziko Lanu and Ndalama wathu
I think you are a racist idiot if a few Malawians are involved in corruption one cannot say that all Malawians are corrupt. Likewise one cannot generalize about asians
You fool one only acquires wealth if one works hard.maybe you don’t know that.Thats why it’s very important to be educated you seem to be uneducated
No if he is able to sell Drugs and Chamba
Yes that is correct. Amini Dada chased then in Uganda
And now Ugandans want them back. 90 percent haven’t returned. they have moved on. Even Zimbabwe wants the white farmers back but these farmers have moved on as well.
Yes you are dam right. Amini Dada chased then
These Yusufs, who are Malawians, have invested heavily in Malawi, and employed hundreds of Malawians at this new hotel.
Malawians try to work hard, without cheating, stealing, etc. in these days when the are no job alternatives.
Help build your country!
Foseki
Go back to India you idiot
Amini Chased all Amwenye in Uganda remember.
I feel we should do the same now
Lilian Patel, the Minister of Labour needs to go to Amaryllis first thing tomorrow and sort out those racist owners.
Generally speaking you can ask any employer whether Malawian or non Malawian. 90 percent of the employees steal. I have a worker who is with me have looked after him very well. When he got sick I personally took him to hospital and guess what he does . I sent him to go and get diesel for my generator and what he did was he put half bottle diesel from the filling station and half water.i caught him and he admitted doing it. We face this situation on a daily basis.
Vuto la Malawi munthu aliyense oyera khungu timamupembedza These idiots are being pampered by politicians that’s why amawauzunza anthu athu.We need to boycott mmalawi aliyense asamapiteko.Stupid indians
We Malawians we are being abused in our own country by Anthu Obwera
I hope our government will act as soon as possible.
In the event that they don’t then we will not act as citizens
Just burn the hotel down. These Indians take Malawians as slaves. Stupid! They must leave.
I agree just burn the shit Hotel and leave this Indians take advantage of the Malawians
The problem with you guys is that you keep on referring to them is indians . Some of their grandfathers emigrated to Malawi in the 1930s and a lot of them hold Malawi citizenship, in South Africa you are South African whether you are white black asian mixed race or indian. 99 percent of the countries in the world if you are citizen of the country you won’t be referred to as black Indian or white. I think you guys need to change your ways as I am shocked to read such racist views in the comments. If a white man in u k would be making such comments about black British citizens he would be regarded as being racist by the non white and whiteBritish citizens. With an attitude like that malawi won’t prosper and we will be lagging behind the rest of Africa.
Good article, I thought nyasatimes has gone to the dogs..
Being critical is good for all of us..
On another note. DALAMELA is beautiful despite being old.. Ie in terms of taste or archetectural..
Not those heaps of stone, sand cement etc
VERY INFORMATIVE
Working conditions with the Yusufs are appalling. I have worked with them at Ernst & Young. They are very unprofessional and do not comply with the labour laws of Malawi. Employees are continually abused both verbally and physically which I have personally witnessed on several occasions. They may hide behind religion however, they show no compassion to their Malawian staff.
Amini Chased them because of their attitude and crocked ways of doing business
You guys are not saints. I know of a Malawian owned guard company who pays his guards 35000 kwacha and makes them work on sundays and makes them work even though they are sick.i hire guard from that company and on one occasion the guard was sick and I asked him why he came and he told me they might deduct his money. I gave him some medicine gave him tea and bread transport money to go back home and rest.
The standards abroad of hotels is really lacking in Malawi as much as i would not like to see a Malawian being harassed but work ethics lacks in us malawians. For us to reach international service level it requires high level of discipline among employees. Do your part tight first then point fingers at the employer later.
Yes ,amwenye azibwera ndithu in a crooked way, and may be another crook boss in india embassy who liase with immigration guys just to freebees the work permits or passport
let alone we are applauding the presdent ,DCs that they are developing the country in the rurals by enhancing Labhaza eg whats happening in Dowa,my people.
also giving out certificates to chiefs because of toilet construction and promise more chiefs will be awarded.
REALLY!!!!!!!!!
TOTAL SHIT RULING
You fucken idiot. This family is second if not 3rd generation Malawian. And everywhere else in the world if youb are late you ought to be punished. Lazy malawians.
We don’t care whether they are third generation. Let them go back to their country. They can’t be abusing Malawians.
You are the ones who are not treating your fellow Malawians humanely. Just today I read an article where a man was burnt alive because of stealing some maize. He probably didn’t have food to eat. You must sort yourselves out before lecturing others.
You guys will end up like Zimbabwe. 80 percent unemployment . An average Asian household employs 7 workers just at home
You will also end like Amwenye chased by Amini Dada
Most of the Ugandan Asians were British citizens they have moved on and a lot of them have become millionaires. The Ugandan govt have invited them back but only 5 percent have returned.for some of them it was a blessing in disguise as these Asians have done well for themselves
Komatu Bambo Uyo mwatukana kwambiri
This is the guy to trace and beat. You Indians will face the music if not careful. There is always a revolution and if not careful u will be sorry
Time to rise up. Remember Amini Chased all Amwenye in Uganda
You said you worked with them at ernst and young and witnessed physical abuse…I could have called the police immediately…the fact that you witnessed and kept it to yourself means that you participated in their sins and enabled it to continue…that’s why they keep doing it coz they ve been getting away with it for too long and they know that they’ll continue to get away with it..what do the human rights pple do about this or unions for workers?
You are the fucking idiot!!!! Who are those fools. third generation of which country, they are not Malawians. all that has been said is true, coming late ndie kuti chani? people are not allowed to shit? can they hold their pepper filled shit, isnt that what makes them to be fury plus the drugs??
Wayankhatu m’mwenye apa.
You missing the point ass hole. Go through it again before you fucking call Malawians lazy.
The reason why we Malawians are the third poorest country in the world is simply because generally speaking we are a lazy lot.Look at the countries around us Zambia Mozambique Tanzania they all have progressed.Even a war torn country like Rwanda is way ahead of us in every way.
Malawi is the third most poorest country in the world. Just admit that we Malawians are a lazy lot
Malawi is being exploited by Amwenye
Viva Malawi.
Amini Chased them all and he was dam right
Uyo what the hell do you think you are, you are very stupid and useless, What is 3rd generation Malawian? your grand fathers came here as Labourers of the British and what ever you have in Malawi has been accumulated in Malawi, by stealing, abusing and underpaying your workers and money laundering
And what have you done for Malawi you idiot probably receiving bribes.
Foseki
Go back to India you idiot.
Amini was right to chase all Amwenye
and the Ugandans want them back but 95 percent haven’t returned they have moved on .i think you are a stupid idiot just look at Zimbabwe they chased the white farmers out and what’s happening to them 80 percent unemployment
By the way I am a British citizen and the British give so much aid to Malawi even though that aid is abused . I think you are the one who is an uneducated idiot
…. and Uganda wants them back also Zimbabwe wants the white farmers back