A further blow to Banda's government were the remarks of Malawi's Minister of Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe, published on the eve of the strike, accusing his fellow countrymen of being lazy. 
Pigo jingine la serikali ya Banda lilikuwa ni kauli ya Waziri wa Malawi Mpango wa Maendeleo ya Kiuchumi Goodall Gondwe, iliyotolewa wakati mgomo huo ukiendelea akiwatuhumu viongozi wenzake kwa kuwa wavivu.