Latest news with #Malawians
DW
2 days ago
- Business
- DW
Malawi: Why are so many young people leaving the country? – DW – 06/02/2025
06/02/2025 June 2, 2025 Malawi is struggling to find employment opportunities for its youth, and many are leaving the country in search of better prospects. A young population, high population growth rate, high unemployment, and comparatively low salaries for professionals may make emigration a particularly attractive option for many Malawians.
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Govt depts now allowed to enlist IT services outside of SITA
Published on June 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM by Edgar Naitha The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has dismissed allegations that it is planning to form an alliance with the newly registered political party, Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu. MCP's Second Deputy Publicity Secretary, Ken Msonda, described such claims as politically immature, especially with just three months remaining before the general elections. Msonda stated that the party is currently focused on national development and has no interest in alliance discussions. He expressed confidence that the MCP will win the upcoming elections independently. His remarks follow growing speculation among some Malawians who believe Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu is the most likely party to align with the MCP ahead of the 2025 polls. Source: Capital FM Subscribe to our Youtube Channel:
DW
27-05-2025
- 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
DW
21-05-2025
- DW
How to travel around Malawi like a local – DW – 05/20/2025
Patronella Diedricks 05/20/2025 May 20, 2025 Planes, trains, automobiles, they're found everywhere. But in Africa, there are so many other ways to get from A to B. Let's check how Malawians get around.
