Compensate Malawi victims of xenophobia – CHRR, CEDEP

Malawi government has been asked to press for compensation from the South African government for its citizens who are victims of xenophobic attacks in the country.

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) have jointly asked government to seek from South Africa to compensate victims of xenophobia for loss of life, property, jobs, dignity and other economic gains Malawians suffered during attacks.

The rights campaigners said government should first “promptly and urgently” engage the South African government in a “serious discussion” with a view to safeguard Malawi nationals.

In a joint statement signed by CHRR and Cedep executive directors Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence respectively, the two human rights organisations have said  Malawi should demand “prompt action” to put an end to the xenophobic attacks and guarantee protection for Malawian migrants living in South Africa

The two say Malawi should “demand compensation for the family of the Malawian citizen who has lost his life in this violence” and also demand compensation for survivors of the violence who have suffered loss of property and various injuries.

CHRR and CEDEP commended Malawi government’s effort to repatriate its citizens who are caught up in the violence.

“ It is the duty of the Government to safeguard its citizens wherever they maybe,” they pointed out.

However, the two group also call upon Malawi government to urgently attend to the economic challenges facing the country so that the economic climate in the country is conducive for Malawians living in South Africa and other countries to return home.

They pointed out that due to massive corruption and failure by government (the current and previous governments) to create mass employment, thousands of Malawians have trekked to South Africa and other countries in search of employment.

“We urge the DPP-led government to deal decisively with corruption, cut wasteful government expenditure and fulfil its electoral promises to create employment.

“ We believe that it is the duty of a Government to provide for a conducive environment for its citizens so that they are able to finds means to make a living within their own country,”  the two groups said.

They also urged all people in SADC, and the entire African continent, to show respect for human life and dignity and exercise tolerance and compassion for foreign nationals.

“ Let us live the spirit of ubuntu –the essence of being human –which is fundamental to our coexistence as equal human beings living in an open, free and democratic country.”

Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) a network of 97 Human Rights NGO’s/CSO’s has in a separate statement called on the Malawi Government to engage the SADC Secretariat and other Member states to convene an Extraordinary Summit of Head of States towards reviewing the latest incidents and consider revisiting the Community’s 2008 resolutions over the attacks which happened then.