Every Child, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has asked government to control migration of Malawians to South Africa in search for jobs, noting the practice continues to be a catalyst for the spread of HIV and Aids in Mzimba District.
Every Child project coordinator Keston Ndhlovu said this in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) last week when the NGO held an awareness campaign on HIV and Aids at Mthonje Primary School in Bulala, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chindi in the district.
Ndhlovu urged government to intervene on migration to South Africa, saying the development puts in danger lives of marriage partners.
“Men who migrate to South Africa leave wives behind and, while there, engage in promiscuous behaviour which leads them to contracting HIV. We, therefore, plead with government to intervene by coming up with mechanisms to restrict migration,” he said.
He said it is also common in the district for spouses, especially women who are left behind, to solicit financial support from other men in exchange for sex.
“Every Child is currently supporting such women after introducing village savings and loans, among other interventions,” said Ndhlovu.
In an interview, village head Daniel Mughogho confirmed that most men in his village are in South Africa, searching for jobs.
“Most of them come back when they are sick. We have lost many energetic men,” said Mughogho.
