Malawi too broke to repatriate detained citizens in South Africa

Malawi government has said it has no money to repatriate over 1000 inmates at Lindera camp in South Africa after they were arrested for flouting immigration laws of that country.

Rejoice Shumba, spokesperson for the ministry of Foreign Affairs said half of the inmates at the camp are Malawians and have spent over a year but the government is too broke to fund their trip back home.

“As of now, we dont have money so we cannot do anything,” she said.

In the past, the South African government used to transport the Malawians back here in cargo planes.

Of late, the South African government repatriated the Malawians in buses costing the SA tax payers about K50 million for 100 inmates.

Shumba said her ministry would intensify civic education to discourage Malawians, most of them young people from going to South Africa through uncharteed routes and without valid documents.