Chaponda visits Malawi xenophobia victims in South Africa: ‘Skills for work courses for returnees’

Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. George Chaponda on Sunday, 26 April, 2015 visited some Malawian nationals who have been affected by the recent xenophobia attacks in South Africa.

Chaponda speaking to Malawians in South Africa
Chaponda speaking to Malawians in South Africa
Malawi victims of xenophobia during a meeting with Chaponda
Malawi victims of xenophobia during a meeting with Chaponda

Over 100 Malawians are being hosted at Mayfair Camp within the Anglican’s Christ Church premises within Johannesburg by the Gift of the Givers, an international NGO operating in South Africa.

The Minister who was enroute to a SADC extraordinary summit in Harare, Zimbabwe was tasked by President Peter Mutharika to assess the current situation on the ground as the two countries aim to discuss the matter further during the SADC summit.

Chaponda was therefore accorded an opportunity to hear for himself the horrible instances Malawians went through when their homes were invaded and some attacked at their work places by South Africans demanding they leave South Africa immediately.

In one instance, a Malawian xenophobic victim narrated how he witnessed a fellow Malawian Hassan Mohammed from Malunga village. T/A Mponda, Mangochi district being knifed by a mob, covered by a blanket and later set ablaze whilst still alive.

Young and single parent Fatima Maulidi with her six month old baby also had a story to tell and wished was back home in Malawi.

Others narrated how they spent days in the bush fearing for their life after having their homes vandalised or burnt and all their property taken away.

Some of the victims had to trek down all the way from Durban into Johannesburg seeking safety at the Gift of Givers camp. They all looked traumatized despite the excellent care by the Gift of Givers and all indicated to the Minister their willingness to return to Malawi at the earliest opportunity.

In response, the Minister assured the Malawians at the camp and elsewhere within South Africa, government’s commitment to repatriate all willing Malawians back to Malawi and have them reintegrated back into their communities.

The Minister went on to indicate how the Malawi government has embarked on a process of creating jobs in Malawi to address the current issue of unemployment which leads most Malawians seeking for jobs in such countries like South Africa.

“I know most of you come here to seek jobs. The government is in the process of setting up community technical colleges in all the constituencies across Malawi and eleven of such have been opened so far,” the Minister said.

“The colleges aim at imparting entrepreneurship skills to young men like with a view to creating jobs,” the Minister said much to the appreciation of the victims.

As a step forward to the visit, Chaponda indicated the Malawi government would further engage the South African government on the issue. This as regards safe guarding the spirit of regional integration as promoted by such regional bodies like SADC, COMESA as well as the AU of which with xenophobia issues, such aspirations tend to be risk.

The Minister concluded his visit to Mayfair camp by thanking Gift of the Givers for excellently running the camp and for all the provisions being made, the Anglican Church through Rev. Eve Abrahams for opening up their premises as well as the South African government for providing all the necessary security arrangements for the camp.

Meanwhile, Gift of the Givers has pledged to provide two buses to assist in repatriation of the Malawians at the camp back to Malawi within the course of the week.

Additionally, they will also provide food packs for the other buses which will depart for Malawi carrying the remaining victims from Durban.

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godfrey
godfrey
9 years ago

Dziko lathu ndi losauka ntchito ikapezeka kulembana pa ubale

abdallah
9 years ago

Mutatimangila ma company zigawo zonse zikanankhalako bwino mwine mkunthawako mabvuto alikunowa. Lero lino tikubvutika kuno kamba kakusowa ntcito ku mudzi.

John myths
John myths
9 years ago

they are no south Africans in Malawi so do u know wht does tht mean?….It means .We are no living I poverty country

JONES KANYUNDO
JONES KANYUNDO
9 years ago

guys zibwerani zinthuzi akukolezera ndi Zuma tamva kale mau ake a pa 28-4-15 sakufuna wobwera kumeneko.

juma ngwira
juma ngwira
9 years ago

Koma ndizovesa chisoni,boma likufuna kusegula ma xool kamba ka xenophobia kale anali kuti kupanga zimenezo ayi basi tathokoza pitiliza. Maganizo ano abwinowo

Kenneth leonnard
Kenneth leonnard
9 years ago

I ever been in RSA and what happens now is like cheating each other

Naliyela
Naliyela
9 years ago

wamakani akhale ku South konko.kwanu nkwanu ,,,,kuzolowera ukapolo eti?a Malawi ambiri tinazolowera kuzunzidwa,,,kupilira zosayenera kupilira,,zibweraniko uko.tikumvatu zambiri kuti enanu mumagona malo omvetsa chisoni ngati pansi pa ma brigde.Ngati mukupanga ndalama zambiri bwanji osapeza nyumba.shupiti zibweraniko musanyozetse dziko.ma bus ndi amenewo aulere kwerani tikukudikirani kuno kumudzi.sakufunsaninso za passport.By the way kODI KU JOBERG MA BUS SAPITA/A

Oesley
9 years ago

Panopa Kuno Amene Tikusowa Ntchito Tilipo Ambili Komaso Maphuziro A Community College Akufuna Ndalama Kodi Ndalama Zoti Tilipilile Ma Kollege Tizitenga Kuti Tili Pa Ulova.

Tulo
Tulo
9 years ago

Chaponda does not know what he is talking about. There are no jobs in Malawi. In South Africa there is a job for everyone. Imagine munthu wosesa (gardner)kulandila R3000 (K120 000) pa mwezi. No wonder people flock there.

Malawians also create their won work by selling vegatables or fruits. They can make a much as R4500 per month.

Malindima
Malindima
9 years ago

He already said that chuma chiri mu nthaka! Many foreign markets want soya beans, chalimbana, uchi, nandolo, nyemba and many other crops.
You will learn the basics of farming at community colleges and each one of you will be given hoes,watercans, water pumps and you will be encouraged to grow commercial crops so that you can sell and make money!
So come back home; xenophobia will not cease. The owners in RSA are also jobless and thus why they will never stop killing us there.
Together we can build Malawi to become another Malaysia!

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