GOV’T PROMISES REVIEW OF RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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Posted by admin on April 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM

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Minister of Health Dr. Alex Katakwe has assured health workers left out of the recent recruitment exercise that Government will review the process to address concerns over fairness, particularly affecting long-serving volunteer workers.

Speaking at the North-Western Provincial Health Office in Solwezi, where he met volunteer general workers from Solwezi General Hospital, Dr. Katakwe acknowledged the frustration among applicants excluded despite years of unpaid service.

“We understand the pain that comes with being left out. Many people have called in tears, saying they have volunteered for years but were not considered. These are genuine concerns that cannot be ignored,” he said.

The Minister noted complaints that general worker positions are sometimes filled by recruits from distant provinces instead of local volunteers already serving in those facilities.

He described this as contrary to President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive that lower-level positions such as cleaners and watchmen should prioritize local candidates.

“We cannot have a cleaner or watchman recruited from another province when there are local people in that same district who have been volunteering for years. That is not right, and we need to reverse it,” Dr. Katakwe emphasized.

He announced plans to engage the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) and the Civil Service Commission to harmonize recruitment and close gaps in the system.

He also pledged to review the database used for recruitment to ensure transparency and fairness.

Dr. Katakwe assured volunteers that Government is committed to reforms that will make future recruitment equitable, transparent, and responsive to local staffing realities.