A Malawi businessman has publicly accused Airtel Malawi of leaving an unused agent booth abandoned inside his office for almost a year, while refusing to refund fees he paid after the company deactivated his dealership over a staffing dispute.
In a Facebook post, Chucks Lungu, who ru
Airtel Malawi abandoned kiosk
ns Chucks Finance Ltd, said he registered as an Airtel Money dealer three years ago and paid all required fees, including for an additional agent booth, which Airtel Money duly installed at his business premises.
According to Lungu, trouble began towards the end of 2025 when an Airtel officer visited the office and warned that the dealer number would be deactivated because no one was permanently seated inside the booth itself.
Lungu said staff tried to argue the requirement was impractical, given that Airtel Money services were already being offered from the counter within the same premises, and that customers were well aware the service was available there — making it unnecessary for someone to sit physically inside the booth.
Despite the explanation, Lungu alleges the dealer number was deactivated anyway, rendering the Airtel Money service at his premises non-operational.
He said repeated attempts to resolve the issue with Airtel Money management in Mzuzu proved fruitless, with staff reportedly insisting the number would only be reactivated if someone was stationed inside the booth at all times. Lungu says he eventually gave up the fight and accepted the decision.
He then formally requested a refund of the deposit and fees paid under the original agreement, and asked Airtel to remove its booth and equipment from his premises.
Nearly a year later, Lungu claims the booth remains in his office and no refund has been issued.
Lungu said he was told Airtel could not process the refund because it was unable to trace the original transaction without a reference number — an explanation he finds baffling, given that the Airtel officer who originally enrolled his company and processed the transaction remains employed by Airtel and, he believes, ought to be able to trace the payment through company records.
He said he had personally reached out to the same officer for help but had received no meaningful assistance or resolution.
In his post, an evidently frustrated Lungu appealed directly to Airtel Malawi to either collect its equipment or refund his money, saying he could not continue storing the company’s property indefinitely while his own money remained unpaid.
Airtel Malawi has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
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