Malawi Police arrest 169 Ethiopians
Malawi Police at Lumbadzi in Lilongwe have arrested 169 Ethiopian refugees who were attempting to escape from Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa.
This is the fourth time in three months police have arrested such a huge number of Ethiopians trying to flee the country using unlawful means. Most of these Ethiopians enter the country using unchartered routes in Northern districts of Malawi.
Lumbadzi Police Officer-in-Charge Effie Sato said the Ethiopians were arrested on Tuesday after getting a tip from the public who became suspicious with huge group of strange people.
“The refugees were taking a rest at a Chinese shop and some people got fishy with them and reported to our office,” said the Lumbadzi police boss.
The refugees are said to have carried maize and water and were reportedly heading for Zimbabwe.
“We are currently facilitating to take them back to the camp. We arrested them because they had no travel documents,” said the Officer-in-Charge.
According to Sato, one of the refugees, who was the only one who could communicate in English, said they decided to flee the camp because they are encountering myriad hitches at the camp like poor diet and sanitation.
The refugee also explained that five of their countrymen have died this year due to poor diet and healthy facilities and were buried right there.
Over 600 Ethiopian Refugees have been arrested this year alone for attempting to escape the camp for greener pastures in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Two weeks ago, group and village headmen surrounding Dzaleka Refugee camp asked government to urgently find means of instilling discipline among the Ethiopian asylum seekers.
The development came after the foreigners invaded Mengwe village in the area of T/A Chikukula where they stole maize while the owners were busy attending a funeral.
Group Village Headman Mengwe warned that if government does not do anything they would take law into their own hands because they were tired with the rotten behaviour of the Ethiopians.
The Ethiopians are said to be fighting indigenous Malawians, raping girls and old women and stealing from the surrounding villages, among others.
“We want government to take action urgently because we have been patient enough with these foreigners and the situation is now getting out of hand.
“People are living in fear in their own country because the Ethiopians are not only invading the villages during the day but also night, a situation that poses danger to their lives and property. If government is not assisting us we have the means to deal with the situation ourselves,” said the angry village, whose area is well known for gule wankulu cult.
There are currently over 8000 asylum seekers at Dzaleka camp from various countries like Somalia, Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Djibouti but the Ethiopians are said to be the most nuisance.
Tagged with: Dzaleka, Ethiopians
I know most Malawinas behave like the few of you (Malawian) here behave. Most of you here sound jealous and coward!! First of all don’t ever forget: Ethiopia is the one who gave you your freedom today. If it wasn’t for Ethiopia you were still langushing out under the yoke of british colonization, as slave of the white man. We gave you freedom today and we gave your HISTORY, Religion, everything you be proud of being an African(check African History) and see which country occupy the vast valume it’s undoubtdly Ethiopia and Egypt! Ethiopia leads Africa in every aspect life: sport, technology, military, politics, etc. Isn’t that Ethiopia’s own son Meles Zenawi who represent you all in the World forums (be it G20, G-8), and isn’t Addis Ababa is where your political nerve center exist ? and, guess what if Malawi is attacked by any non-African force today Ethiopia will not hesitate to shad it’s blood there, to keep you free again. So, in light of all that, i said let these refugees go ERITREANS/Somailans/even maybe some Ethiopins, whatever they are let them go to where ever they tend to go.
It is extremely deplorable to see some one who has been living in a stone age by making such disgusting remarks.
Let us face the fact that each African nation is strivng to overcome a cycle of horrific hunger and poverty. These refugees are fleeing their country of origin to escape from such gruesome consequences of poverty. The youth have lost any hope to have a better future in their country of origin. So now all the Arican youths wish to be resettled in the Western countries.
Please African leaders take your energy and resources to restore good governance to your peole and give hope to the people.
That is how we can resolve this and other aspects of our problems.
I encourage fellow Malawians to be patient and understanding of their other Africans problems.
are you sure these are Ethiopians. for me they looks like Eritreans.
I dont think Ethiopians would do that and hey for one thing they are your brothers we all are Africans,just give them what ever they need let them go where ever they wish , stop whining, just make a difference for once!!
I am still in disbelief after I have seen such a stupid article published. Though, no wonder this can happen in this era of internet.
In short, what the “Ethiopians” in Malawi are facing now is not new to all Africans (including Malawians). Asylum and immigration has been now a chronic problem to all African nations. Other that this, I did not believe any of the contents of the article. It does not represent by any means Ethiopians. It sounds like a fabrication that was typically written by anti-Ethiopians.
As an Ethiopian, it is truly a shame to read some of the comments made by so called Ethiopians. First of all, these are individuals that left their country by choice for greener pasture and Malawi happens to be one of their route. They don’t represent the government of Ethiopia nor any specific ethnic group. So Ethiopians need to stop lying contstantly to themselves and others about the greater prosperuous nation called Ethiopia that doesn’t exist. There is rampant porverty and unemployement that is fueled by a rapidly growing population. The population of Ethiopia more than doubled in less than 30 years. A country as poor as Ethiopia can’t keep up with such demand for resources. And if these people are forced to leave their county and happen to be in Malawi they need to abide by the rule of law in Malawi. I bet they will think twice of repercussions that will follow, if they attempted to do half of the things mentioned back in Ethiopia.
I ask Ethioopians to stop pointing fingures at everybody (Somalis, Eritreans etc) but themsleves. It is only when we honestly acknowledge our problems that we will be able to tackle them. I am sick and tired of too much pride of some minority ignorant and loud people that are nothing but backward and arrogant. Stop telling lies to yourselves face reality.