Concerned local Malawians residing along Kapiri-Mkanda road are protesting the awarding of a contract to a Chinese Company UNIK Construction Engineering, claiming that most its staff are abusive.
The locals have since lodged a formal complaint to the Ministry of Labour through the district’s labour office, demanding that government terminates the contract to let the company dismantle its equipment and leave the area.
Recently, one of the company’s workers was suspended following reports of abuse of Malawian workers.
One local worker who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, told us that Chinese workers can sometimes beat up local workers for no apparent reasons while also using a litany of abusive and vulgar language.
“It is a sad tale. They beat us using any object handy. One of my friends recently sustained serious bruises on the back and was rushed to the hospital but no one reprimanded the management of the company. I don’t know why this company was allowed to come and construct this road here?”
Not so long ago, the workers staged a sit-in after one of their fellow members was injured by the suspended Chinese, who is one of the supervisors of the company.
The project’s total value is K4.3 billion and covers a 10-kilometer stretch.
It is expected that the project will ease the mode of transport and communication between the two areas.