Malawi24 investigation exposes career stagnation at Mzimba District Hospital

Mzimba, Malawi – July 8, 2025 – An investigation by Malawi24 has uncovered growing frustration among Anaesthetic Clinical Technicians at Mzimba District Hospital over prolonged stagnation in their career progression. 

Some officers have reportedly worked for over a decade without promotion, remaining at the same grade, HK.

Several affected workers told Malawi24 that despite their years of service and commitment to saving lives, they have been overlooked. In contrast, others, allegedly with connections in higher offices, have advanced rapidly through the ranks.

“Imagine, some of us started working in 2017 and we’re still on the same grade, yet our colleagues who started after us have already been promoted twice,” said a hospital staff member, who asked to remain anonymous.

The investigation further revealed claims that favouritism and nepotism may be influencing promotions. Staff allege that those with relatives in senior government positions tend to benefit from faster career advancement, bypassing standard procedures.

According to public service regulations, civil servants are typically eligible for promotion after a set period of satisfactory performance, usually supported by supervisor recommendations and the availability of vacancies. 

However, some Anaesthetic Clinical Technicians at Mzimba District Hospital say the system has failed them, leading to low morale and concerns about fairness.

Efforts to obtain comments from hospital management and the Ministry of Health on the matter have so far been unsuccessful.

As health professionals continue to play a critical role in Malawi’s public service, especially in specialised fields such as anaesthesia, stakeholders are calling for a transparent and merit-based promotion system to boost staff morale and improve service delivery.