President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday intensified his criticism of private businesses, particularly in the health sector, while announcing new state-run ventures — even as the government continues to withhold hundreds of millions of rufiyaa owed to private companies.
In an interview with state broadcaster PSM, President Muizzu accused certain businesses of worsening the lives of ordinary citizens, pointing specifically to the eyewear industry.
He announced that the government would begin selling prescription glasses through Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), alleging that private sellers were offering nothing more than “fickle dust.”
The President has previously made similar remarks. In February, he denied any government role in the nationwide shortage of medicines and blamed private companies for the suffering of patients.
Saturday’s remarks come as the government prepares to launch a new state-owned company for brickmaking and concrete casting. The move adds to a growing list of state interventions in sectors previously led by private enterprise.
However, the government has not acknowledged the mounting concerns of unpaid dues to the private sector. Health sector businesses say the state health insurer Asandha and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) owe them hundreds of millions of rufiyaa. Industry insiders say the growing backlog is placing many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under severe financial pressure, resulting in layoffs and closures.
Private businesses have also been hit by sudden regulatory changes, including bans on products such as vapes and tobacco, leading to the abrupt closure of several businesses.
President Muizzu has repeatedly urged some businesses to “do something else” and has warned that all companies must comply with laws and regulations. But critics argue that while the government expands its footprint in the market, it is undermining the private sector by failing to honour its own financial commitments.
Despite growing alarm from affected businesses, the administration has remained silent on the issue of unpaid bills and has yet to offer a timeline for clearing the backlog.