By Khumbo Msambala Salanje
Lilongwe, October 29, Mana: Government has urged businesses to uphold human rights, saying Malawi’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR) will help promote responsible business practices and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in international markets.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango made the remarks during the launch of the NAP-BHR at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe on Thursday.
He said the plan marked an important step towards aligning Malawi’s business environment with international standards, stressing that responsible business conduct was increasingly essential for participation in global markets.
“Today is a very important day for Malawi in terms of doing business and respecting the international standards for doing business and respecting human rights in this country,” Mhango said.
He said the five-year plan would address gaps in national guidance on business conduct and support Malawi’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area by helping businesses comply with relevant trade requirements.
Central Region Councillor for the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), Dr Peter Matipwiri, said foreign exchange shortages, rising operating costs and limited access to finance should not justify neglecting human dignity.
“Trust is not an expense, it is an asset. And dignity is not an obstacle to productivity. It is one of its foundations,” he said.
Matipwiri said small and medium-sized enterprises needed practical guidance and training to integrate human rights into recruitment, workers’ pay and safety, supplier selection and community engagement.
He said responsible business practices should extend beyond large corporations to small enterprises, farmers and contractors across the country.
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Chief Executive Officer Habiba Osman said the Commission would continue investigating business-related human rights violations, helping resolve disputes and monitoring implementation.
Osman said the plan was founded on three pillars: the state’s duty to protect human rights, businesses’ responsibility to respect them and access to effective remedies when violations occur.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Fenella Frost said adherence to responsible business standards could make Malawian enterprises more attractive to foreign investors and export markets.
Frost said implementation would be led by the government in partnership with the private sector, including the Malawi Chamber of Commerce, while the Ministry of Justice would oversee the process with support from the MHRC and UNDP.
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