By Rahim Abdul
In a shocking workplace accident on Monday, a 42-year-old Chinese national, Zeng Yuxin, lost his life at the Ng’onga Portland Cement construction site in Balaka.
Authorities say the tragedy unfolded while Yuxin was performing a routine safety task on a milling machine.
According to Balaka Police spokesperson Gladson M’bumpha, Yuxin was working alone, placing safety stickers on the machine during a test run when the accident occurred.
“CCTV footage shows that he was unexpectedly pulled into the machine due to air pressure,” M’bumpha explained.
A postmortem examination conducted at Balaka District Hospital confirmed that Yuxin died from severe injuries sustained in the incident. Police have indicated that investigations into the safety measures at the site are ongoing.
The incident raises serious questions about worker safety protocols at industrial sites in Malawi, especially for foreign nationals who often work in high-risk environments.
Labor experts emphasize the need for strict adherence to safety guidelines, including having more than one worker present when machinery is being tested.
Local community members and colleagues have expressed shock and sorrow over Yuxin’s death, highlighting the emotional toll workplace accidents can have on families and the wider workforce.
This tragedy comes at a time when Malawi is seeing a surge in foreign investment in construction and industrial projects, underscoring the importance of robust safety regulations to prevent avoidable fatalities.
Police have called on all employers in the country to review their safety standards to ensure incidents like this are avoided in the future.
Meanwhile, investigations into the exact circumstances of the accident continue.
