Malawi activist condemn attacks on immigrants in South Africa
The chairperson of Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) and Black Economic Empowerment Movement (Mablem) Robert Mkwezalamba has joined other stakeholders calling for an end to attacks against foreign immigrants in South Africa as the rainbow nation leaders rallied to halt xenophobic violence.
No Malawian has died while two sustained injuries and 300 were displaced in suspected xenophobic attacks in South Africa, according to a statement made available to Nyasa Times by Minister of Information and Communications Technology Henry Mussa.
At a news conference in Lilongwe, Mkwezalamba asked South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to condemn the attacks in strongest terms.
“Apart from condemning the attack, Ramaphosa should also apologise for the lives lost during the attack,” said Mkwezalamba.
Some South Africans, especially in the port city of Durban, are reportedly perpetrating attacks against foreign nationals amid concerns that they were taking up jobs that would have been done by South Africans. During similar attacks in 2015, seven people died and dozens were injured.
Mkwezalamba said Zimbabweans, Zambians, Mozambicans, Malawians, Namibians and Tanzanians are cousins and children of Southern African.
The CSOs have since recommended that SADC Heads of Government meeting should convene an emergency session to address the latest development.
The CSOs have further recommended that South African Government should finance all Malawians who are interested in returning to Malawi and may have lost their identity for a smooth repatriation.
In a statement Mussa said Malawi is consulting on voluntary repatriation of 105 Malawians to be sponsored by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Said Mussa: “Government is doing everything that is possible to secure the safety and welfare of all our citizens.”
The CSOs have further asked Malawi to roll out a programme to document all its citizens in South Africa and beyond for purposes of providing them with protection when in problems.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu on Monday called for a meeting with representatives from other countries to resolve the recent attacks against foreign nationals living in that country.
The first group of 105 Malawians displaced in South Africa is set to depart today under the voluntary repatriation process.
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What’s this story about the Durban fracas starting because a Malawian confessed to have stolen from a south African??
To some extent Malawians immigrants in SA are to blame for these xenophobic attacks. Malawians are fond of being self-denialists, pretending things are ok when all indicators tell us they are not.
If one meets someone who speaks Chichewa at OT Airport or JHB Park Station he is likely to be a very dangerous tsotsi than a Zulu or any SA speaking languages. Malawians are being robbed by fellow Malawians in SA. Don’t just blame SA government. There are a lot of Malawians in SA doing nothing but stealing. And fellow Malawians are the easy target.
Finally something sensible from CSOs. But where is Timothy and Kajolowekamo?
I would like to recommend the cso’s for stund up for poor citizens that are really need help, i would also thank that u pointed out very important issue about ask government to roll out documents for those are living outside the country particularly south African. That’s very necessary if the government consider that coz this time around the world every country needs people who has well documented foreign nationals, that why other countries even want to get out from EU so that their country undocumented nationals won’t be allowed. i want also to remind government that these people they… Read more »
zonsezi zikuchitika chifukwa chakuba kwa DPP,chikhala kuti sakuba bwenzi ma factory ali ambirimbiri mu Malawi muno wogwirako ntchito
Ture that
Malawians CSO gimic is to talk too much and get funded; Do you think South African GOv can listen to you; Young MAkonde is dead due xenophibia the day before yesterday in the hands of South African Doctors; They did not attend him; People in south African hate obwera thus it; it is in their blood;