...A National Shame and Betrayal of the Youth
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group under the banner, the National Advocacy Platform (NAP) is outraged by the appalling scenes that unfolded during the walk-in interviews for Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) conducted across the country on May 31, 2025.
NAP observes that the chaos, confusion, and disregard for human dignity witnessed at various recruitment centers reflect a serious governance failure and a shameful betrayal of the youth of Malawi.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, June 1, 2025 signed by NAP Chairperson and National Coordinator Benedicto Kondowe and Baxton Nkhoma respectively stated that “Ministry of Health’s decision to allow all applicants and even non-applicants to attend the interviews, following conflicting communications and an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) directive, exposed thousands of desperate youths to dangerous, unhealthy, and dehumanizing conditions”.
Reads NAP statement in part, “In the absence of proper planning, crowd control, sanitation facilities, water points, and basic logistical support, young people were reduced to victims of a system that should protect and empower them.
“Some sustained injuries in stampedes. Others lost their only original academic certificates. All were forced to endure long hours under extreme conditions, only to chase a handful of job opportunities”.
NAP observes further, “This situation goes beyond a simple recruitment mishap; it raises serious concerns about the government’s responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of young people. The continued use of walk-in interviews, despite widespread challenges and risks, appears outdated and inadequate in today’s context.
“Labour and health rights advocates have expressed concern that such approaches may compromise fairness, safety, and dignity. The lack of innovation, logistical preparedness, and proactive planning in managing such critical processes suggests a disconnect between policy intentions and the lived realities of Malawi’s youth”.
The grouping states, “These developments are a clear manifestation of a ticking time bomb. The levels of youth unemployment in Malawi are not just rising; they are exploding. And yet, those in power continue to treat the issue with lip service.
“Promises such as the much-publicized labour export deal to Israel have collapsed without explanation. Government has remained mute, indifferent, and evasive while young people continue to suffer in silence”.
NAP observes further, “The conduct of these interviews, coupled with broader challenges in addressing youth unemployment, highlights the urgent need for policy and systemic reform.
“Malawi’s young people are increasingly confronted with limited opportunities, which can lead to frustration, disillusionment, and a sense of exclusion”.
Kondowe adds, “It is therefore imperative for government to adopt transparent, digital, and dignified recruitment methods, while accelerating the implementation of inclusive employment policies.
“Failure to act decisively risks deepening public dissatisfaction and undermining social cohesion”.
NAP therefore demand urgent and bold action to restore dignity and hope to the youth of Malawi.
NAP recommends the following:
1.The Ministry of Health must issue a public apology and take full responsibility for the gross mismanagement of the HSA recruitment exercise.
2. Immediate assistance must be provided to all candidates who lost their certificates, including collaboration with relevant authorities like MANEB and universities for reissuance.
3. Government must permanently discontinue the use of walk-in interviews and replace them with transparent, digital, and decentralized recruitment systems that promote fairness, efficiency, and dignity.
4. Government should declare youth employment a national priority and mainstream youth economic empowerment across all sectors, with dedicated funding and measurable targets.
5. The Ministry of Labour must take decisive action to operationalize the National Youth Establish a National Youth Labour Market Observatory to collect and analyze data on youth unemployment trends, skills gaps, and opportunities for policy response.
6. Employment Action Plan, including timely updates on previously promised programmes such as labour export initiatives.
7. Invest in youth-led enterprises and innovation hubs through access to startup capital, mentorship, and markets to harness the creativity and resilience of young people.
8. Expand Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) to equip young people with demand-driven skills aligned to national development priorities.
9. Strengthen public-private partnerships to stimulate decent job creation, including leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards youth employment initiatives.
10. Ensure youth participation in policy-making and programme design to reflect their lived realities and aspirations as a key population dividend for national development.
Concludes NAP, “Malawi’s youth are not disposable. They are not statistics. They are the backbone of this country’s future. Treating them with such disregard is not only unjust—it is dangerous and must be stopped”
