Latest news with #Malawian
TimesLIVE
10 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
'I'll never apologise for visiting Bushiri's church': Shivambu
MK Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu will not apologise for his visit to the church of fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi over the Easter weekend. Shivambu's visit to Bushiri's church sparked condemnation from his party and the justice and constitutional development ministry, labelling it a 'blatant act of disrespect towards South Africa's legal system'. Despite that, Shivambu expressed no regret about his actions. 'One thing I will never apologise for is when I went to see prophet Shepherd Bushiri, and he said, 'Let's go to church'. I said, 'I'll go to church',' he said in an interview with Newzroom Afrika. Bushiri and his wife Mary fled South Africa in 2020 after being granted bail on charges including fraud and money laundering. A Malawian court recently granted South Africa's request to extradite the couple to face charges, including rape and fraud, and they have indicated their intention to appeal.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
SANDF troops withdrawal from DRC hits a snag
BLOEMFONTEIN - SADC will not meet their deadline to withdraw SANDF peacekeepers from the DRC by the end of May. This is due to logistical delays withdrawing all heavy equipment from their base near Goma. The SANDF says just over 30 trucks have transported South African Military equipment from Goma to Tanzania. Other heavy equipment will be transported through the Dar es Salaam port to South Africa. The transportation of Tanzanian, South African and Malawian troops will then begin. The Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, honoured the lives of the 14 soldiers lost recently on UN International Peacekeepers Day. South Africa first provided peacekeepers to the DRC in 1999 under the UN MONUSCO mission. And despite the recent losses in fighting near Goma, the defence force says peacekeeping remains part of their mission.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Ex-Orlando Pirates star and PSL midfielder on Richards Bay's radar
Ex-Orlando Pirates star Gabadinho Mhango is on the brink of joining Richards Bay FC, as the KwaZulu-Natal club prepares a double swoop that also includes out-of-favour midfielder Lindokuhle Mtshali. Both players are being lined up to reinforce the squad ahead of the 2025/2026 Betway Premiership season. The Natal Rich Boyz are looking to bounce back from a difficult campaign, and the addition of two experienced players could prove crucial as the club eyes a stronger showing next term. Mhango has parted ways with Marumo Gallants just as the season comes to a close, with the final fixtures wrapping up this Friday when SuperSport United take on Golden Arrows. The Malawian international joined Gallants after the club purchased Moroka Swallows' top-flight status. Although expectations were high, Mhango's season was modest, he scored five goals and registered one assist in 25 appearances across all competitions. His game time diminished significantly towards the end of the campaign, featuring only twice in the final seven matches, starting once and coming off the bench in another. Midfielder Lindokuhle Mtshali is also expected to leave Sekhukhune United after a frustrating season. Having joined the Limpopo side from the now-defunct Swallows, Mtshali found himself on the fringes of the squad, making just two appearances all season. His situation deteriorated in April when he was suspended following an unauthorised absence. Although the issue was later resolved, he didn't feature again before the season's conclusion. Mhango and Mtshali previously played together at Swallows before the club's PSL status was sold to Abram Sello's Marumo Gallants. Richards Bay FC could now reunite the pair as part of their transfer strategy heading into the new season. A source revealed that the club are in a strong position to secure both signings. With talks expected to accelerate as the transfer window opens. Top football agent Mike Makaab, who represents both players, confirmed Richards Bay's interest. However, he made it clear that no contracts have been signed yet. 'There is interest but nothing has been finalised as yet, but there is interest,' Makaab said, as quoted by FARPost . Can Richards Bay land this experienced duo which includes an ex-Orlando Pirates star? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
DW
7 days ago
- Health
- DW
Malawi-Israel health workers deal: Who benefits the most? – DW – 05/26/2025
Malawi churns out more nurses from college than it can employ. A new deal to send health workers to Israel promises jobs and relief, but will it drain Malawi's already fragile health care system? With high unemployment among health care professionals, an agreement between Malawi and Israel will see the Southern African nation send trained nurses and midwives to Israeli health institutions. The Malawian government says the bilateral deal, signed in April, will benefit health care workers by giving them a job, new skills and a way to support their families through remittances. This offers a chance for unemployed Malawian nurses, like Christina Jere, who is enthusiastic about the prospect. "I would definitely go. I have been qualified for three years and I haven't even been called for an interview," Jere told DW. "Malawi is my home, but why would I stay in a country where I have spent so much on college fees without a job? Elizabeth Gondwe—another trained nurse—has similar aspirations. "I've stayed here for a long time without being employed. I'm so excited because here in Malawi I was unable to help my family," Gondwe explained to DW, adding that she eventually envisions returning to Malawi with more skills and experience. Criticism of the Malawi-Israel health care workers' deal Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of sending skilled health care workers abroad. A similar deal agreed in 2023, in which Malawians went to work in Israel's agricultural sector, caused uproar amid reports of exploitation , poor working conditions, and Malawian workers being deported for breaching their work contracts. Critics also say Malawi's health system is under-resourced and cannot afford to lose trained personnel. Malawi's nurse-to-patient ratio is about one-third below that of the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended ratio of at least one nurse per 1,000 patients. While the deal has been seen as a win for the Malawian government, Malawian observers have also questioned the government's motives, seeing this as a political move, rather than taking the interests of Malawian citizens into account . Malawian healthcare workers could soon be working in hospitals such as this one in Tel Aviv Image: polk430/Depositphotos/IMAGO In addition, Malawi's policies regarding Israel break with the existing trends of other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Notably, South Africa has accused the Israeli leadership of war crimes in Gaza during Israel's war on Hamas. In contrast, Malawi opened an embassy in Tel Aviv in 2024 and is seen by Israel as a strong ally on the continent. Lastly, watching the Malawian government invest in training health care workers only to see them encouraged to move abroad, taking their skills and knowledge with them, has stirred debate in Malawi. However, Mercy Mwalilino, a practicing midwife in Malawi, told DW that some nurses are earning as little as 3,453 Malawian Kwacha ($2, €1,75) a day. According to Mwalilino, only a quarter of qualified nurses have found employment within Malawi's health care system. How will Malawian health care workers fare in Israel? Concerns have also been raised about working conditions in Israel and whether proper protections are in place for the Malawian workers. The previous initiative, which saw Malawian agricultural workers go to Israel, was stopped after the workers complained of difficult working conditions, left their jobs to work in the informal sector, or sought asylum in Israel. In contrast, this bilateral deal for the nurses was driven by private labor recruiters. Malawi: Ending period poverty using banana fiber pads To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video For Mercy Mwalilino, the bilateral agreement between Israel and Malawi gives a sense of security to the deal. "The Malawi government is finalizing this deal in conjunction with the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi, which is responsible for looking into all those conditions for the nurses before sending them there," she told DW, adding that those willing to go can earn $200 to $300 a month. When asked about the possibility of Malawians potentially working in a dangerous part of Israel threatened by war, Mwalilino admitted this was a concern. "Those in dilemma because of the security risks will not be forced to go." Will Malawian health care workers return? Other potential candidates, like Esther Malanga, are more circumspect about working in the Middle Eastern country. "Adapting to a new language, culture and work environment could be a challenge, and could impact my personal life. Initially I would consider working in Israel for one to two years." Malawian officials justified the policy by saying nurses and midwives would be upskilled in Israel before coming back when their contracts are over. For Malanga, that would be an attractive option. Malawi strikes deal with Israel to send nurses To play this audio please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 audio "Going to Israel would help me improve patient care and learn about different health systems, approaches and technologies that I could bring back to Malawi," she told DW. However, others like Christina Jere are not sure about returning. "Going to Israel is something exciting, and I don't think I would come back." Josephine Mahachi contributed to this article Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
DW
26-05-2025
- Health
- DW
Malawi-Israel healthworkers deal: Who benefits the most? – DW – 05/26/2025
Malawi churns out more nurses from college than it can employ. A new deal to send health workers to Israel promises jobs and relief, but will it drain an already fragile healthcare system? With high unemployment among healthcare professionals, an agreement between Malawi andIsrael will see the Southern African nation send trained nurses and midwivesto Israeli health institutions. The Malawian government says the bilateral deal, signed in April, will benefit healthcare workers by giving them a job, new skills and help them support their families through remittances. Several Malawian nurses, like Christina Jere, are excited about the prospect of working in Israel. "I would definitely go. I have been qualified for three years and I haven't even been called for an interview," Jere told DW. "Malawi is my home, but why would I stay in a country where I have spent so much on college fees without a job? Elizabeth Gondwe—another trained nurse—has similar aspirations. "I've stayed for a long time without being employed. I'm so excited because here in Malawi I was unable to help my family," Gondwe explained to DW, adding that she eventually envisions returning to Malawi with more skills and experience. Criticism of the Malawi-Israel healthcare workers' deal Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of sending skilled healthcare workers abroad. A similar deal agreed in 2023, in which Malawians went to work in Israel's agricultural sector, caused uproar amid reports of exploitation , poor working conditions, and Malawian workers being deported for breaching their work contracts. Critics also say Malawi's health system is under-resourcedand cannot afford to lose trained personnel. Malawi's nurse-to-patient ratio is about one-third below that of the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended ratio of at least one nurse per 1,000 patients. While the deal has been seen as a win for the Malawian government, Malawian observers have also questioned the government's motives, seeing this as a political move, rather than taking the interests of Malawian citizens into account . Malawian healthcare workers could soon be working in hospitals such as this one in Tel Aviv Image: polk430/Depositphotos/IMAGO In addition, Malawi's policies regarding Israel break with the existing trends of other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Notably, South Africa has accused the Israeli leadership of war crimes in Gaza during Israel's war on Hamas. In contrast, Malawi opened an embassy in Tel Aviv in 2024 and is seen by Israel as a strong ally on the continent. Lastly, watching the Malawian government invest in training healthcare workers only to see them encouraged to move abroad, taking their skills and knowledge with them, has stirred debate in Malawi. However, Mercy Mwalilino, a practicing midwife in Malawi, told DW that some nurses are earning as little as 3,453 Malawian Kwacha ($2, €1,75) a day. According to Mwalilino, only a quarter of qualified nurses have found employment within Malawi's healthcare system. How will Malawian healthcare workers fare in Israel? Concerns have also been raised about working conditions in Israel and whether proper protections are in place for the Malawian workers. The previous initiative, which saw Malawian agricultural workers go to Israel, was stopped after the workers complained of difficult working conditions, left their jobs to work in the informal sector, or sought asylum in Israel. In contrast, this bilateral deal for the nurses was driven by private labor recruiters. Malawi: Ending period poverty using banana fiber pads To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video For Mercy Mwalilino, the bilateral agreement between Israel and Malawi gives a sense of security to the deal. "The Malawi government is finalizing this deal in conjunction with the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi, which is responsible into looking into all those conditions for the nurses before sending them there," she told DW, adding that those willing to go can earn $200 to $300 a month. When asked about the possibility of Malawians potentially working in a dangerous part of Israel threatened by war, Mwalilino admitted this was a concern. "Those in dilemma because of the security risks will not be forced to go." Will Malawian healthcare workers return? Other potential candidates, like Esther Malanga, are more circumspect about working in the Middle Eastern country. "Adapting to a new language, culture and work environment could be a challenge, and could impact my personal life. Initially I would consider working in Israel for one to two years." Malawian officials justified the policy by saying nurses and midwives would be upskilled in Israel before coming back when their contracts are over. For Malanga, that would be an attractive option. "Going to Israel would help me improve patient care and learn about different health systems, approaches and technologies that I could bring back to Malawi," she told DW. However, others like Christina Jere are not sure about returning. "Going to Israel is something exciting, and I don't think I would come back." Malawi strikes deal with Israel to send nurses To play this audio please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 audio Josephine Mahachi contributed to this article Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
