The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC)—an independent body established by the country’s act of parliament—launched an investigation into China-Lilongwe Grand Holdings Company following local media reports of strings of abuses at the site. More and more reports of ill-treatment of workers in Chinese companies in Africa has prompted investigations further, the allegations of abuse, which includes beating.

A group of business owners in Malawi’s financial hub may be feeling the side effects of the southeast African nation’s government getting closer to China.