By Esnart Tembo:
The Malawi Network of People Living with HIV (Manet Plus) has faulted the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) for its policy of excluding people with HIV during the recruitment of soldiers.
Manet Plus Executive Director Lawrence Khonyongwa claimed that a number of HIV-positive people had written the organisation on the issue after being excluded from military recruitment.
Khonyongwa emphasised that people living with HIV deserve equal opportunities, adding that there was no justification the MDF to be sidelining them.
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He said during meetings with MDF officials, they were told that individuals who are living with HIV are not medically fit, such that they cannot undergo military training.
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“Of course, MDF cannot give us records to show that they are not discriminatory, but we found from the applicants that this is, indeed, happening on the ground,” Khonyongwa said.
When contacted, MDF spokesperson, Major Emmanuel Mlelemba, said Manet could have first engaged them on the issue before going to the media.
While neither denying nor accepting the allegations, Mlelemba highlighted that medical fitness was one of the factors considered during recruitment.
In 2018, MDF announced that recruits must undergo mandatory HIV testing to ensure national security.
