About 5000 skilled but unemployed nurses and midwives across the country have petitioned the ministry of health demanding permanent jobs.

Chairperson for the concerned health workers Peter Kabaghe told Zodiak Online that majority of them are being exploited.

“The country’s health system has a shortage of human resource and needs to be covered, but government is just exploiting us by giving us 40, 000 Kwacha for temporary employment” he said.

The group has since given government a 5th October ultimatum to permanently employ them.

“If it fails to give us permanent employment, we will withdraw our services from all the district hospitals and health centers,” he said.

Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Health Dr. Samson Mndolo finds the demands to employ all the 5000 health workers at once as unrealistic.

“The government is working on the matter, but the same cannot be done at once,” he stated.

Health rights activist Maziko Matemba has asked the authorities to find a long lasting solution on the matter.

“There must be a better way that the health workers have to be absorbed into the health system once they finish their education,” he said.

Some unemployed nurses through the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives in Malawi (NONM) tried to push for labour export deal, in a desperate move to find employment in other countries.
 
But government blocked the move stating that proper procedures were not followed, hinting that it (government) want to use proper channels (through government to government engagement).

The Ministry of Agriculture says it is yet to decide on farmer contribution of fertilizer and goats for this year’s Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).

Unknown people have defiled and killed a four-year-old-girl, Tadala Khobidi, at Ntonda, Traditional Authority Phambala (T/A) in Ntcheu.

An educationist Wesley Mwambakulu has asked authorities to release the 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination results, following the commencement of this year’s academic calendar.

Mwambakulu told Zodiak Online Tuesday, that the delay is likely to inconvenience some students who may want to re-take the national examinations.

“Timely release of the results is crucial, in preparing both the students and parents for the new academic calendar,” he said.

But, Ministry of education Spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera is asking for patience, saying processes are underway.

 “The public will be notified once all the processes are finalized,” he said.
 
Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) administered the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) national examinations from 27 June to 21 July 2023.

The Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) says enhancing citizen participation in matters of development is crucial in addressing issues of substandard public infrastructure construction works in communities. 

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a cease and desist order to 16 traders for over charging cement. CFTC Spokesperson Innocent Helema has told Zodiak Online that this follows ongoing investigations into the matter as tasked by the Ministry of Trade. 

Senior Group Village Head Mnembe of the area of Traditional Authority Mbenje in Nsanje district says seven bodies have been recovered following the Monday tragic boat accident.

Winter is here again and for 120 primary learners at Kalande and Lusape primary schools in Traditional Authority (TA) Ganya in Ntcheu, nothing will discourage them to attend classes in this period as Tivekeni Initiative has dressed them all.

Oxfam Malawi says good and sound financial muscle among sexually active youths remain crucial to address issues of teen marriages and pregnancies in the country.

As hunger continue to hit hard some communities across the country, 22 senior citizens from Senior Group Songa 1, Traditional Authority Mtonda in Mangochi have received bags of maize to avert the food shortages.