By Burnett Munthali

On the morning of Sunday, October 12, 2025, I met a friend who works in carpentry and joinery.

After exchanging greetings, our conversation quickly turned serious as he shared a distressing experience that had recently shaken his small business.

He told me that while he was temporarily away from work, a team of young employees received payment from a client without his knowledge.

They never informed him about the transaction, nor did they account for the money.

Days later, when the project owners began following up on incomplete work and missing funds, he was the only one left to answer for the mess.

The young employees had vanished — leaving him alone to face the financial consequences and repair the damage to his professional reputation.

It was a painful story, not only because of the loss involved but because it exposed the fragility of trust in workplaces built on verbal understanding rather than formal agreements.

For many Malawian artisans and small-scale entrepreneurs, teamwork is often based on relationships, loyalty, and informal arrangements rather than structured contracts.

This approach can work well when honesty prevails, but it becomes disastrous when money enters the picture and accountability disappears.

Lessons

The carpenter’s story carries deep lessons about leadership, trust, and communication.

First, it reminds us that trust, while essential, must be supported by clear systems of responsibility.

Relying on good faith alone, especially in business, can lead to betrayal and loss.

Second, it shows the importance of constant supervision and communication between leaders and their teams.

Temporary absences should never mean loss of control over financial transactions or customer relations.

Lastly, it highlights how easily integrity can collapse when greed and lack of accountability take root — especially among young workers who may not fully grasp the long-term impact of dishonesty.

Challenges

The challenges in this story reflect the wider struggles faced by small business owners in Malawi.

Many artisans lack access to formal management training, contracts, or legal mechanisms to hold workers accountable.

They operate in environments where trust is both the foundation and the greatest risk.

When employees misbehave or vanish, the owners bear the entire burden — financially and emotionally.

Additionally, there is the challenge of building work ethics among young employees who sometimes view short-term gain as more important than professional reputation.

Without mentorship, many fail to appreciate that honesty and reliability are the true capital in trades like carpentry and joinery.

Solutions

To prevent similar incidents, small business owners must begin formalizing their operations, no matter how small the enterprise.

Simple written agreements, receipts, and payment records can make a big difference in ensuring transparency and accountability.

Leaders should also introduce basic orientation sessions for their teams, emphasizing ethics, teamwork, and respect for authority.

Involving workers in financial discussions and progress updates can foster a sense of shared responsibility rather than suspicion or secrecy.

Technology can also help — using mobile banking, digital receipts, or group communication platforms to ensure everyone stays informed.

Most importantly, mentorship and leadership must remain central to small business management.

Young employees need guidance, not just instructions. They must learn that trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild — and that integrity is worth more than any quick cash.

Conclusion

My friend’s story is a painful reminder that leadership is not just about skill — it is about foresight, discipline, and structure.

Trust must be earned, protected, and managed through systems that promote transparency and fairness.

In the end, his experience is not just a tale of betrayal but also a valuable lesson for all who dream of building honest, resilient, and professional small enterprises in Malawi.

When trust turns costly, what remains is wisdom — and the determination to do things differently next time.