A Palestinian advocate and human rights activists have criticised the Malawi Government’s plan to send 500 healthcare workers to Israel under a government-to-government employment agreement.
Speaking to Radio Islam, Palestinian advocate Sheikh Muslim Abbas Vinjenje and Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said while individuals have the right to seek employment wherever they choose, working in Israel at the current time could be perceived as contributing to what they described as human rights abuses against Palestinians.
Sheikh Vinjenje said Islam prohibits supporting or establishing relations with groups that violate the rights of other people.
“It is advisable or the Muslim youth not to apply for this because when you work in Isreal it is evidently that you are assisting Isreal in boosting its economy and if you boost the economy of Israel, that means that you are support the growth of its economy which in turn will oppressing our Muslim brothers and sister in Palestine and other middle east countries”, said Sheikh Vinjenje.
He further argued that Malawi, as a peaceful country, should reconsider its relations with Israel, which he said has faced international accusations over alleged abuses against Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Kaiyatsa said the government should demonstrate its commitment to human rights by publicly condemning Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
He also questioned the decision to send healthcare workers abroad at a time when Malawi continues to face shortages of healthcare personnel in public hospitals.
“To send so many health workers outside the country at time when our own health system is struggling with shortage of nurses, what is the reason, what is the rationale, for us it really doesn’t make sense” he said.
Kaiyatsa said the government should instead prioritise strengthening the country’s healthcare system by addressing existing gaps in staffing and ensuring that Malawians have adequate access to healthcare services.
The government has announced that 500 Malawian healthcare workers will be recruited to work in Israel under the government-to-government agreement.
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