Govt eases restrictions on fresh recruitments

Malawi Government has relaxed restrictions on recruitment for some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) nine months after introducing expenditure control measures that stopped restrictions on recruitment, among others.

In a circular dated July 3 2026, Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi has informed some MDAs that they can proceed with recruitment, but only those budgeted for in the 2026/27 fiscal year.

The beneficiaries of the new arrangement are ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Education, Science and Technology as well as Health and Sanitation.

Reads Saidi’s communication: “I am pleased to advise that restrictions on recruitment and promotions have been waived to enable ministries and departments declare and fill vacancies that are occurring in the current financial year and are already budgeted for as required by Section 5(2) of the Public Service Act, 1994.

“This is to ensure continuity and efficiency in the delivery of public services. However, please take note that accumulated vacancies from past financial years and those from newly created established posts shall continue to require a justification for waiving the restrictions.”

On Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri told Parliament that his ministry has recruited13 directors of economic planning and development, 18 directors of public works, 12 chief procurement officers and eight directors of human resources and administration in councils.

He said the ministry has also facilitated recruitment of 687 constituency development personnel and has sought authority to recruit 36 internal auditors, directors of economic planning, development and public works, environment, procurement officers, and others to strengthen internal control systems across local government authorities (LGAs).

“The recruitment of these officers is intended to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of local authorities, thereby ensuring that the directorates are fully staffed and able to effectively discharge their statutory mandates,” he said in a ministerial statement.

Human Resources for Health Coalition chairperson Solomon Chomba said in a written response on Saturday that the waiver will mitigate existing burnout in the sector.

“Achieving a robust health sector requires decent work which translates to fair remuneration, improved working conditions, and the fulfillment of necessary professional promotions for clinicians,” he said.

He also urged government to consider stopping unpaid labour or temporary recruitments of healthcare workers on upkeep allowances of K150 000 a month.

National Advocacy Platform (NAP) chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said while the waiver may be necessary to maintain public service delivery, government needed to account for how much was saved through the expenditure controls introduced in November 2025.

Centre for Social Transparency and Accountability executive director Willy Kambwandira agreed, stressing that lack of disclosure  reinforces the concern that the austerity agenda has largely been rhetorical.

Earlier, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha said details will be provided during the Mid-Year Budget Review for the 2026/27 fiscal year slated for September.

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