Concerned unemployed nurses and teachers slam government’s ‘Political’ employment promise
Written by Ivy Tunkete Mwanyongo:
A group of concerned unemployed nurses and teachers, advocating for permanent recruitment, has criticized the statement by Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda on their employment, labeling it as political.
The group, led by Chairperson Frank Kamwendo, contends that the government lacks certainty about the exact date for commencing the recruitment of the concerned individuals.
“We have heard that the Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda has announced that the government will employ about 2,741 health officials by July 31st, 2024, but we know that it is just a political statement,” said Kamwendo.
He added, “The government has also indicated that it is fast-tracking processes for other health workers to be working in diaspora, but this is not the first time the government is talking on the issue, and we want to see it happening.”
Meanwhile, the group says it will proceed with its planned vigils scheduled for November 17th, 2023, at Kamuzu Mausoleum in Lilongwe.
“We will not relent unless our call is met. Even the number that the Minister has indicated is not enough considering that we are over 5,000 unemployed nurses,” lamented Kamwendo.
Malawi’s Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda on Tuesday announced employing the nurses when he was updating the nation on measures the government has put in place to cushion Malawians on the effects of the 44 percent devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha.
The group of unemployed nurses and IPTE 13 to 14 teachers earlier planned to hold the vigils on November 11th, 2023, but changed its plan after President Dr Lazarus Chakwera left the country for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, respectively.
For the past months, the group has been pressuring the government to consider employing them and is calling on President Chakwera to intervene on the matter.
