By Mercy Matonga:
Recruitments for positions in the Ministry of Health (MoH) have sparked allegations of alleged corruption and nepotism.
The positions include those of nurses, disease control, surveillance and health assistants (DCSA) and health attendants.
Some concerned Malawians and unemployed nurses and midwives have since written MoH Headquarters, Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) and District Council officials to investigate recent recruitment processes at the ministry.
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The investigations were conducted via district councils.
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In one of the complaints seen by The Daily Times, a group of graduates has written to the Director of Recruitment at MoH, complaining about anomalies that were observed during recent recruitment interviews. of unemployed nursing
Among other things, the complaint alleges that some participants in the interviews were made to write NMT exams instead of the agreed exams for nurses.
The other complaint is that some participants are already employed in government and Christian Health Association of Malawi systems while other participants were unqualified and unlicensed by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi.
The letter argues that the participation of such applicants might hinder deserving unemployed nurses and midwives from securing employment.
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“In light of these events, it is therefore our noble duty, as leaders of the unemployed, to bring these issues to your attention and request that the human resources department remain vigilant during the shortlisting phase of candidates and that all names be properly screened for eligibility before being granted the employment opportunity so that only the qualified unemployed [people] benefit,” the letter reads.
In another complaint, a group of Malawians from the 28 districts of the country have complained to the ACB Director General Martha Chizuma about recruitment of health surveillance assistants after candidates who are alleged not to have been shortlisted for interviews were selected.
In the letter, dated March 3, 2024, signed by eight representatives of the concerned individuals, they name some of the selected candidates and ask the bureau to probe whether the process was influenced by corruption.
“We think it is important to review the selection process and determine how these individuals were able to be selected, and whether there were any irregularities in the process,” the letter reads.
The Daily Times has also seen another letter on the same by a group identifying itself as Mchinji Youths.
It has been addressed to the Mchinji District Commissioner and copied to the Office of the Ombudsman, among others.
In the letter, the youth are crying foul over processes that led to the hiring of some people at Mchinji District Council.
However, when contacted by The Daily Times, both MoH Principal Secretary Samson Mndolo and the ministry’s spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe distanced the ministry from the mess.
He said MoH only sourced funds for the process but that the task of recruiting personnel was left in the hands of councils.
“We found the money, but recruitment was decentralised to the councils,” Mndolo said.
In a separate interview, Chikumbe said while the ministry is yet to receive any complaint, it was aware that some people who were not shortlisted for the interviews but had all the necessary qualifications were allowed to attend such interviews, with others being successful while others were not.
“So far, we have not received any report of irregularities regarding the recruitment process. Should anyone substantiate any of such, we encourage them to let us know quickly so that we investigate and take necessary action based on findings,” Chikumbe said.
Government remains the biggest employer in the country.
