Mulli prays for government to soften heart

Squeezed businessperson Leston Mulli, managing director of Mulli Brothers Limited, has turned to God for help following government’s grip on his businesses which has left it sailing through financial woes.

This week, Mulli Brothers Ltd gathered clergy in all its 19 subsidiaries under MBL Holdings where the clergy asked God to soften the heart of the country’s leadership to start giving contracts to the company and pay out outstanding bills government owes the firm.

The prayers at the company’s headquarters in Chigumula were led by chairperson of the Anglican Church in Malawi Bishop Brighton Malasa who also heads the Upper Diocese of the Anglican Church.

“Our economy depends on the private sector. Government needs to support companies and the companies need to work hard. This company is going through hard economic times just like other companies,” said Malasa who said companies should have faith in God for their survival.

The clergy, who included Reverends Billy Gama (chaplain for MBL Holding) Misheck Nasiyaya, among others, said it was obvious that government was squeezing MBL Holdings but urged the employees to continue working hard and not lose hope.

The company’s financial director Gilton Chakhaza said it was sad that government today has decided to punish Mulli Brothers by not awarding it contracts or not making payments for work already done when those in government benefited from the company before getting into power.

“Those in government today used to come here for help and today they are squeezing us. God sees all that. They are not punishing Mr. Mulli but over 5 000 Malawian employees. We ask those in government to soften their hearts and begin to treat us as Malawians because we are also part of government,” said Chakhaza.

On his part, Mulli claimed that government was squeezing the company because of its association with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

“They think if they give us contracts we shall use the money to support DPP to get back to power. But if people want DPP they will vote for it without money. We are a business and with God we shall survive,” said Mulli.

The prayers coincided with the annual event when the company gives thanksgiving to God and seeks new guidance in the New Year.

Rev Gama said church ministers were deployed to all the 19 subsidiaries to conduct similar prayers.

But government spokesperson, Moses Kunkuyu, is on record that government has no policies to squeeze MBL and encouraged the company to participate in contract bids.