Malawi Bureau of Standards under fire over Puka Matches certification: Jussab risks arrest
The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) is being investigated after Leopard Matches Limited accused the standardization institution of corruption in the awarding of certification for Paka Matches which are being imported from Kenya.
Leopard Matches also accuse the importers of forging import licenses and there are reports that the importers, Muhammed Assin Hassam of Bazooka Trading and Jussab Nurmahomed of Jussab Nurmahomed Wholesalers and some officials from the MBS risk arrest after both the Fiscal Police and the Anti-Corruption Bureau instituted investigations.
Following revelations that MBS has fraudulently awarded certification to Jussab Nurmahomed Wholesalers and Bazooka Trading to import Paka Matches, Leopard Matches sought and were granted a court order to stop the importation as well as to seize the goods that have been imported.
Following the court order, Leopard Match, in the company of over 30 armed Policemen on Monday stormed Limbe and raided about 10 shops where they confiscated boxes of Paka Matches.
A similar exercise was conducted in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
The seizure follows an injunction granted to Leopard Matches by the High Court prohibiting Bazooka Wholesalers and Jussab Nurmahomed Wholesalers from importing and distributing the product on the market.
Leopard Match also raided MBS head office in Blantyre where they seized all documents relating to the certification of Paka Matches.
In their affidavit to the court, Leopard Matches claims MBS contravened their own MBS Act in granting permission to the two entities to import Paka Matches.
Leopard Match claims MBS granted the two wholesalers import approvals without testing mandatory parameters under Mandatory Standards MS:251:2002 and MS:252:2002 namely, crushing strength and damp proofness in contravention and ultra vires the MBS Act, regulations and standards which is illegal, null and void, irrational and unreasonable.
The company is also challenging the decision by MBS to given an import annual waiver to the importers of Paka Matches without them qualifying for a mandatory maximum four imports in line with the law and based on illegal imports each done without mandatory testing.
In an interview, Leopard Match Limited lawyer Khuleza Phokoso told NyasaTimes that Paka Matches is a product that should not be on the market because it did not pass the standardization tests.
“Apart from putting an injunction stopping the distribution and selling, the court has also ordered that there shouldn’t be any selling on retail level as well as any importation. So, as we speak, even Malawi Revenue Authority has been ordered not to allow any imports of Paka Matches into the country,” he said.
He added that following the court order, the product is as good as banned and should not be sold anywhere in the country.
According to Phokoso, the case is between Leopard Matches and MBS and also against the two importers.
Paka Matches are produced by a Kenyan company called Lion Match.
Phokoso claimed that the two importers have so far imported 2,000 metric tonnes of the product
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The CEO of MBS was primarily put there for such purposes. It is a shame and a disgrace that people well learned can sink so low to fatten their bellies. No wonder they relieved the acting CEO knowing his integrity and bring in a brood of a viper, Cursed people.
DPP has eroded all ethics in regulation because the cadets that have been imposed as CEOs on critical organisations such as MBS, MACRA, MCM, NMCM, PMPB, MERA and Peticides Control operate to enrich themselves and channel money to DPP as opposed to protecting Malawians. All these organisations need a complete overhaul. Malawians are now being slowly slaughter d by their own government that does not care!
Take the example of Pharmacy Board where we have a very tired and frail looking old man who is imposed on the organisation through nepotism to control the quality of medicines in Malawi. Let me tell you Malawians I had a chance to speak to this money being an operative within DPP and I can plainly say it here this idiot who is so boastful is clueless and his main focus is how to make money. In the few months he has been around he is connected to all sorts of motives such as DPP operatives who want thier relatives working at this organisation promoted just like that; he has hooked up contractors from DPP doing minor works that are not needed at all; he has hooked up with the daughter of Jean Kalirani who is rumoured to be a girlfriend and works at the School of Pharmacy and takes her for silent official trips abroad instead of his own members of staff and worst of all he is issuing licences for medicines without the knowledge of any staff members for some amwenyes to import medicines and supply to Central Medical Stores. This I have seen and understood by interacting with this crook though briefly! I repeat this man is dangerous and clueless but always tries to look smart even in dressing. He is never out of his suit and I would want to believe he sleeps in a suit as well. Imagine what kind of a person is dressed in a suit on a Sunday on a beach at the lake shore? Thus the kind of eccentric people DPP uses to milk Malawians and sentence to death!
The above is only an example of how this have gone out of hand in regulation in Malawi where capabilities, compliance, consistence and feeling of reliable service to Malawians who own the organisations should be of virtue. DPP rid the regulatory agencies of the dunderheads you have planted there because tomorrow it will be you and your kids who will be casualties!!
Viva rafik OG ISSA
Jussab risks arrests!!!!, what about the MBS cartel of officers who bedded with him
As regards to the retailers who bought from him not knowing that the matches were illegal. Who is going to reimburse their investment. Of course MBS has to reimburse, because they are the ones who faciltated the imports. MATCHGATE Ki Ki Ki. All stocks seized from shops will be re-sold by MBS staff and without EFD receipt and will just hold on to a few cartons for court evidence
TIPPEX TIPPEX TIPPEX !
kkkkk malawi wa lelo noone checks on this- expiry dates a double kapena ofufutikaaaa
Let Leopard Match embrace the competition which is there on an international market. Issues to do with corruption are very sensitive, and before reporting such, do research and find the truth. In fact no individual could be allowed to “raid” into a government office and “seize documents”
This is strange actually that the plaintiff get given the right to ‘raid’ offices or shops. They have complained the rest should be up to the court to enforce through whatever legal mechanisms exist. Strange times indeed.
Leopard Matches officials should not play saint. Most companies in Malawi survive by siding with government officials. Much as we do not condone the act by Paka Matches, we doubt whether Leopard Matches officials’ hands are clean. They have been enjoying absolute business monopoly. In addition, why should Paka dump their stuff in Malawi? Where are the Kenyans to get their stuff? We need companies that can manufacture right inside Malawi to create job opportunities for Malawians. They create job opportunities to Kenyans during manufacturing and only dump their stuff to Malawians. We need productive economics and not consumptive economics.
Congrats Mr. Barret
Wish I could also raid MBS offices and expose all the rot that is going on in every section, be it admin, testing, finance, procurement , etc. When they want IQMS fees they want payment at the border either in cash or bank certified cheque. One has no option but to drive to the border and pay the same so as to avoid paying huge charges for delaying the container at the border. Can they not collect it through the clearing agent or through MRA at the destination instead of holding up the trucks. One has to drive from Blantyre to Songwe border
Also when they collect IQMS charges for literally everything that comes through the border, does MBS carry out the inspections after collecting fees? Never. It is just money making and milking the importers who pass on the costs of IQMS to the customer
If you import by Air then the same prodcut does not attract IQMS, since there is no MBS officer at the airports
It also depends on the officer at the border whether to charge IQMS or not. Some shipmenst coming thro Mwanza may attract IQMS, and the same commodities coming through Dedza may not attract IQMS
There is a real problem with this brand of Matches. I have used both brands and the difference is clear, Paka matches can cause accidents as its head of fire flies off.
Amwenye atamawamangadi nkumawapangaso deport. Ambiri amabwera kuno mma container and get their documents done mu dziko mommuno. I hate amwenye amationongera dzikoli. Merciless mone launderers azibwerera mmakwawo😡
I have been using Leopard Matches since I was born and I will not change ..💥
I’m sorry but the lot of you in the comments have no sense. How can you allow another brand from another country to come here. Yes competition is good and it should happen but with another malawian not someone from outside. If the market has to import matches then jobs here will have to be trimmed down so malawian will lose his/her job. The company will grow small contributing less tax to our country.
Is the absence of Sobo Orange, Pineapple, Passion Fruit squashes attributed to MBS or Castel? If MBS, then they are dunderheads. If Castel, then they have to go to a Business School to learn the trade. Those drinks were winners.
How could Leopard invade the MBS and seize documents?? Where are we going?
Zoti panatengedwa court order simunamve? What is it with Malawians and selective listening?
leopard matches fear competition, they want to monopolize the market!
Malawi dziko lomvetsa chisoni. Tidzichita kupanga Import ndi Machesi omwe kuchokera ku Kenya. I think mitu yathu inasiya kugwira ntchito kalekale. Lachuluka ndi dyera komanso Katangale.
Zangowavuta a Leopard Matches basi. Don’t monopolise ! Have a competitor.
Are matches worth importing? To me Leopard matches are the best in the world.
Inunso a Leopard kugona too much.Matches basi why don’t you diversify, People ordering toothpicks from China but you are sitting phwii
Corruption will never end in Malawi
Bravo,this shouldn’t stop there,Bureau Is corrupt needs proper investigation a lot is happening with MBS, a lot o lotten items being certified by them,bureau mchileso
“Leopard Match Limited … say … that Paka Matches is a product that should not be on the market because it did not pass the standardization tests.”
Really!!! I have to ask if Leopard matches pass any kind of standardisation test. It usually takes three or four attempts with their matches before I can get one of theirs to strike and to stay lit as I get my fire going.
The problem of putting cadets to head sensitive institutions like MBS. All they think of is quick money at the expense of anything including safety and lives. This country is gone and gone!
Hello World,
Notice how in a very simple exercise of seizing an illegal product from unarmed shopkeepers, the brutal Malawi police in attendance are bristling with automatic rifles and tear-gas guns. One of them has to even be wearing an anti-riot helmet.
Is that Mrs Rambo in the top photo, the one with the tear-gas gun and bandolier?
Are you an Asian? Wait and see who Malawians are, you are destroying our Country with Corruption! you are every where corrupting illpaid Government officials. We will not stop we will come after you and your corrupt minds
Very True this is very scary for the public to digest do they really need this show
what would they the army be expecting when they go fully armed
These 2 jussabs are heavily infested with corruption and they boast about it. Infact you cannot chart with them without mentioning katangale.
Kodi matches amenewo ukawasa amakana kuyaka? Kapena achita zotani NDE mwalesa kuti asapaezeke akugulisidwa palipose nanga kwa amene anaoda kale ndalama zawo abwezeledwa? Ndafunsa izi poti ama grocery sangatsate ma act àkambidwa Iwo kwao nkuoda basi
Leopard Matches Manufacturing Company the are monopolies this matches business, they don’t want any competitor