The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has cautioned government that it will be forced to mobilise funds from donors aiming at rescuing about 60 Malawian women trapped in Oman.

The warning follows a six-day ultimatum that CDEDI gave authorities last week to expedite the processes of rescuing the women who are alleged to have been enslaved in the middle east country.

According to a two-paged letter which the right advocate organisation has written the newly appointed Minister of Labour Agnes NyaLonje, government business is not supposed to grind to a halt.

Reads the letter: “We at CDEDI therefore would like to believe that you have had an opportunity to have a proper handover, and therefore you only have three days left in order for you to push cabinet to approve funding for the rescue of our young women.”

CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa has told us that he is dismayed at government’s lack of seriousness in dealing with the matter in the past seven months.

“Your failure to passionately appeal to the Cabinet Chairperson who in this case is the President Lazarus Chakwera himself to release the funds to bailout the stranded citizens.

“Will force CDEDI to start knocking on the doors of the international community and well-wishers within and outside the country to join in a fundraising initiative to free these vulnerable women from slavery,” Namiwa said.

Authorities are yet to comment on the matter.