Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have faulted the Ministry of Health following a stampede that took place at Katoto in Mzuzu which dozens of people were left injured during a recruitment exercise of the ministry.

In a press statement signed released by Youth Decide Campaign which was signed by its team leader Charles Kajoloweka described the exercise as shambolic.

Kajoloweka added that the organization is “appalled” by the “hostile conditions” the youth were subjected to at the interview.

The group has since urged the Ministry of Health to halt the recruitment exercise and launch an investigation into its framework, particularly the rationale for choosing walk-in interview as a method of screening applicants.

The CSOs have also urged government to operationalize the Harnessing the Population Dividend blueprint signed in 2016 to promote the youths’ access to quality employment.

Thousands of applicants attended the walk-in interviews in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.