Malawi’s Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda, revealed that the government is in negotiations with four additional countries to facilitate labor exports as part of efforts to create job opportunities abroad. Speaking at a New Year political rally in his constituency of Kasungu South, he expressed optimism that more Malawian youths and other citizens would secure formal employment overseas.
Currently, approximately 1,000 Malawian youths are working on farms in Israel, and this number is expected to increase to 5,000. However, Chithyola Banda did not disclose the specific countries involved in the new discussions for labor export.
During the rally, the Secretary General of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Eisenhower Mkaka, emphasized the positive trajectory of Malawi’s economy under President Lazarus Chakwera’s leadership and Chithyola-Banda’s stewardship at the Ministry of Finance. Mkaka noted that traditional donors had reinstated direct budgetary support to Malawi due to their confidence in the current administration, attributing it to the outlined policies of the new Finance Minister. He also expressed optimism that the economy would rebound from the impact of natural disasters and the pandemic, citing Cyclone Freddy, COVID-19, and the economic downturn as significant challenges.
Addressing the crowd, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Catherine Gotani-Hara, urged the people of Kasungu South to support Chithyola-Banda as their Member of Parliament, lauding his commitment to development and exemplary discipline. Similarly, MCP’s Director of Youth, Richard Chimwendo Banda, appealed to the residents of Santhe to retain Chithyola-Banda as their representative in the 2025 elections, emphasizing his diligent work as an MP.
The rally, attended by six cabinet ministers and 17 members of parliament, highlighted the government’s efforts to bolster the economy and create opportunities for Malawian citizens on the international stage.
