Salima Sugar Company Limited has called on the government to urgently appoint a new board of directors, saying the prolonged leadership vacuum is stalling efforts to restore the company to full operational capacity.

Executive Chairman Wester Kosamu said the absence of a functional and legally constituted board has crippled the firm’s ability to make strategic decisions, attract investment, and rebuild operations.

“The lack of a functional board has significantly affected the company’s ability to move forward,” Kosamu said in an interview. “We’ve been engaging various stakeholders and potential partners, but without proper governance, progress remains limited.”

According to Kosamu this will be the first step toward rebuilding trust, stabilizing leadership, and securing the company’s future.

“Reconstituting the board will not only restore oversight and accountability but also open doors to fresh financing and strategic partnerships essential for our revival,” he said.

Salima Sugar has faced mounting operational and governance challenges in recent years, including leadership disputes and questions about oversight. The most recent crisis occurred in December 2023, when a group claiming to represent the company’s board attempted to remove Kosamu. The High Court later nullified the action, ruling that the individuals involved had no legal authority.

“I was appointed by a board with full legal authority at the time. Unless a new board is properly constituted, no one has the right to overturn that decision,” Kosamu maintains.

Meanwhile, Political and governance analyst George Chaima echoed the call for urgent board reconstitution, saying strong oversight is key to reviving the company’s fortunes.

“Without effective leadership at the board level, no institution—public or private—can thrive. The situation at Salima Sugar is a textbook case of how governance gaps can paralyze progress,” Chaima said.

Founded in 2016 as a public-private partnership, Salima Sugar was envisioned as a strategic investment to reduce Malawi’s dependence on imported sugar and create jobs in rural communities. However, inconsistent funding, poor oversight, and management disputes have hampered its progress.