Recruit 2,600 workers on merit, MQHZ demands
By Ludia Ngwadzai
THE Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) has urged government to conduct a fair, credible and transparent recruitment process as the Civil Service Commission prepares to employ 2,600 health worker positions.
MQHZ director general Dr Quince Mwabu said in a statement the 2026 recruitment exercise presented an important opportunity to restore confidence in the health workforce.
Addressing concerns that emerged during the 2024 and 2025 recruitment processes was important.
Dr Mwabu said previous recruitment exercises had raised serious concerns among health professionals and members of the public regarding the use of the database system, inconsistencies in candidate selection, allegations of corruption and other irregularities.
He noted the concerns created uncertainty among qualified health professionals and raised questions about fairness, transparency and equal opportunity in public sector recruitment.
Dr Mwabu called for the complete abandonment of the database system in the 2026 recruitment exercise because there w as no transparency.
He said candidate selection should be conducted through a transparent, merit-based and accountable process that could be trusted by health professionals and the Zambian public.
The Ministry of Health should lead the coordination of the recruitment process because it was the institution responsible for planning and managing Zambia’s health sector workforce.
He said the ministry understood the staffing gaps, professional requirements and service delivery priorities that must guide the recruitment of health workers.
Dr Mwabu demanded that the year of completion of training should be considered in the 2026 exercise.
He observed that many qualified health professionals had remained unemployed for several years after completing their training despite meeting all professional requirements.
Dr Mwabu said a fair recruitment system should recognise those who have waited the longest for an opportunity to serve the nation.
He emphasised that at a time when many health facilities continued to experience shortages of essential health workers, Zambia cannot afford to have qualified professionals remaining outside the health system.
Dr Mwabu said every recruitment decision should contribute to strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that citizens had access to quality services.
