Malawi Govt squeeze Mulli: Business empire collapsing
Malawi Government has squeezed business magnate Leston Ted Mulli by sidelining him in any major business contract which he used to enjoy during the former regime of the late Bingu wa Mutharika.
As a result, some 12, 000 jobs are on the line as Mulli is finding it difficult to pay some contractual agreements with various commercial banks and other individuals.
Government sources confided in Nyasa Timesthat Mulli has been overlooked in almost all business interests that he used to enjoy during the late Mutharika regime.
“He has not been given any government business since the new administration came into power in April this year. He has been sidelined in the fertiliser deal or even any transportation contract. There is no government business going to Mulli,” said a source at Capital Hill.
Mulli confirmed that he has not been given any government business since President Mrs Joyce Banda took over government on April 7 this year following the death of Mutharika.
“It’s true I have not been given any government business since April this year and this has affected our operations because we had some agreements and contracts which we are supposed to fulfill legally and its becoming difficult. What worries me much is the 12,000 plus workforce that Mulli Brothers employ,” said Mulli.
An employee working for one of Mulli’s many companies said in an interview that some employees have gone for some months without any pay due to the difficult financial situation the company is going through at the moment.
“We are in trying times but where can we go, we just have hope that maybe some people in government will see the sense and not punish thousands of people for the sins of one man. If we quit work, where can we go? It’s a sad situation,” said the employee.
Mulli used to get all the major government contracts during the Mutharika regime because of his close links with the late President.
He owns commercial banks a lot of money but is failing to pay back as government has also not been issuing payments to him.
