Malawi govt decision to relocate Dzaleka refugee to Karonga angers residents

Malawi government through the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Chiumia has officially announced that it will soon move all refugees from Dzaleka refugees camp in Dowa to the Northern Region district of Karonga but residents of the northern region border district are asking government to immediately reverse its decision.

Simsokwe: Do not relocate refugees rto Karonga
Simsokwe: Do not relocate refugees rto Karonga

The announcement comes barerly after over eight months since government made a decision to relocate the refugees to Chitipa district but the move was blocked by residents of Chitipa citing security threat as one of the reasons.

The Karonga Youths for Justice and Development Executive Director Steven Simsokwe and chairperson for the business operators Wavisanga Silungwe said they will protests against the relocation.

 They argue that allowing the reallocation of the camp will comprise security in the district.

 “Blocking the project will teach government to start respecting us especially by consulting all parties before coming up with such decision,”said Simsokwe.

 “This is a second time for government in connive with our traditional leaders to make a decision without consultation as it did with naming Karonga-Chitipa road ‘Bingu highway’ but we shall not be defeated this time,” warned Simsokwe.

On his part Silungwe said as business operators their worry is on the safety of their goods and lives because most of these refugees are thugs.

 Simsokwe further argued why the camp is not built to the countries bordered with the conflicts zone such as Kenya than crossing six borders only to seek refuge in Malawi.

But Chiumia, who confirmed government has finally secured a place at Katili in Karonga, said they will use about K100 million allocated in the 2016-2017 national budget to upgrade Katili road which is about 15 kilometers away from the M1 road.

Speaking after visiting Katili recently, the Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister assured residents of Karonga of maximum security.

She also revealed that the government will plant a police unit in the area as one way of ensuring  safety among the surrounding community.

Apart from upgrading the Katili road, government also intends to improve water infrastructures.

Dzaleka refugees currently registers a total of over 28, 000 refugees and all of them will be moved to Karonga once the construction is over.

The $25 million dollar plus project will be carried out with funding from the United Nations Humanitarian aid.

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be humane
be humane
7 years ago

Most of these refugees come through mozambique, then why put them in karonga instead of MWanza closer to the border they come from. Those who come through Tanzania are mostly intercepted by boarder police

Fisi Dausi
Fisi Dausi
7 years ago

There is plenty land at NDATA why not relocate it to Thyolo?

Zabwino zonse mumafuna zizipita ku NDATA, zonyansa ku north. Sitilola, dothi ku dothi!

Zoonadi Zenizeni
Zoonadi Zenizeni
7 years ago

Kwa amene amadziwa ku Katili…it is unfortunate kuti govt ikufuna ichite zoterozo. Yes it is a hard to reach area but has a lot of untapped natural resources besides its proximity to Nyika National Park. If this happens tiyembekezere kuwonongeka kwa chilengedwe kupitirira apo kulanda malo abwino a anthu a ku Katili. Izi zisachitike.

Mwenelupemphe
Mwenelupemphe
7 years ago

out of 17million people in malawi 7million are foreighners, send them back home.

be humane
be humane
7 years ago
Reply to  Mwenelupemphe

A mwenelupembe record limenelinso munalitenga kuti?

be humane
be humane
7 years ago

Govt, how much can K100 million take to repatriate how many refugees? Its all wrong as well to have a refugee camp inside the country and closer to the capital. Repatriation and intergration should be solutions. Its painful to a Malawian who has been suffering all along for poor road, water, health, electricity and other basic services and only come to respond when trying to relocate refugees. This is an insult to Malawians. Its not about the north abale anga atumbuka take out your hard won tribal remarks and lets look at the issues objectively. The question is not them… Read more »

who we be
who we be
7 years ago

What I know about this issue was that the temporary transit shelter at Karonga old town should relocate but not the whole Dzaleka camp relocating to Karonga. For Dzaleka camp the workers are not happy with Dzaleka moving elsewhere because they say ndi mgodi wawo uwu. Komaso kodi bomali tulo. why not repatriate these asylum seekers? Amachita kunyadatu anthu amaenewa. Amatha kugula galimoto kukasiya kwawo ku DRC etc. search me.

Khuduza Kaluselela
Khuduza Kaluselela
7 years ago

What kind of government is this that we have in Malawi? Malawi doesn’t need to relocate these people but to repatriate them to the countries of their origin. Is it a crime that Malawians chose to be peaceful even in the face of reasons to go to war with itself. In these other countries quota system or favoritism by government on tribal basis is enough reasons to go to war. We have instead chosen peace in the midst of these adversities. So why should we allow these war mongers into territory. WE SAY NO TO KATILI RELOCATION.

mwanangwa
mwanangwa
7 years ago

Let the north not be a dumping ground of the ‘unwanted’ Why provide water and a road to refugees when the indigenous’ cry for development falls on deaf ears – and so a Burundi is a recognisable person to Malawi government than a Ngonde?

Afana Zedi
Afana Zedi
7 years ago

The most ridiculous thing is that Government is promising a road, police station and water infrastructure just because of refugees! So refugees are more important than citizens!? Please tell UNHCR to repatriate these refugees forthwith! Ntcheu and other districts are suffering heavy deforestation and overpopulation because of Mozambican refugees. Now we have an influx of Burundi and Somalis…our country is too overcrowded and too poor to take in more refugees. Let this problem be resolved by African Union, not a small country like Malawi. Let

jika man
jika man
7 years ago

Its time they go home. For long shall we keep them, for ever?

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