Malawians divided on refugees relocation
An intense debate has ensued among Malawians on whether it was appropriate for the government to relocate all refugees back to the Dzaleka Camp, a move which was thwarted by an injunction obtained by the latter Tuesday.
While some say it “is unfortunate” and would only result in draining the state more of her already meagre resources, others find government’s decision desirable.
Writing on various social media platforms including Facebook, Malawians especially journalists and social commentators said most of them had “actually” forgotten their “refugee status.”
Wrote Dumbani Mzale: “They [refugees] forgot about their refugee status, and started having problems with [Dzaleka Refugee Camp]. And when, now, we are telling them that that is where they belong, they are slapping us in the face.”
Mzale, a seasoned media practitioner, said all that Malawians need is sanity to prevail.
“It is too much,” he wrote.
But media entrepreneur and award-winning journalist Mallick Mnela quashed Mzale, and argued that the issue was not being handled in a systematic manner.
“The one size fits all treatment is not good. There are others who are productive and helping Malawians in different roles. As it were these people were providing for themselves through their hard work. We had no cases of crimes attributed to them. Now we are killing their businesses and expect them to be a responsibility of the taxpayer through the government’s lousy support or through the UNHCR,” wrote Mnela.
Mnela alleged Malawians were being unfair.
“By the way, how many of our brothers are in South Africa as ‘Economic Asylum Seekers?’ What was our reaction when the SA government ejected them? Yes, they [refugees] are guests. Yes, they [refugees] are not Malawian citizens. But we must always remember that we are one Africa,” he wrote.
On April 1, the Ministry of Homeland Security issued a 14-day ultimatum for refugees and asylum seekers to return to Dzaleka Camp after many of them left the camp to and carry out various businesses in communities surrounding the camp.
This was made in line with the Encampment Policy which entails that refugees and asylum seekers should be in their designated camp and that those plying their businesses should do so within the camp.
However, there were reports that Malawians were taking the law into their hands and forcibly executing the government order, forcing the Ministry of Homeland Security ordering that “nobody should attempt to take the law in his or her own hands by robbing them or causing any violence against them as they are returning to the camp.”
But on the application of one Abdul Nahimana on his own behalf and that of refugees and asylum seekers, an injunction was granted stopping the government from continuing with the relocation of the refugees whose deadline was April 28, 2021.
Homeland Security Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda has meanwhile said they will respect the court decision.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
A
Kukhala kuti ndi nzungu woyera nkhungu a Malawi timachita ngati tinyambite pansi nzungu adustepo or opanda pepara. Timaona ma road block mo ayi ndindu wankhungu loyera amangodutsa. Poti awo ndi aku Africa anzanthu ndiye nayoni Africaphobia. Umbuli. Asiyeni azimanga pali ponse. Mufa inu mulisiya dziko. Poti ndi chimodzi modzi kuti adzikwatira a Malawi m Malawi yo adzikhala naye ku Dzeleka. Ndiyesa mumupatsa mzika mu Burundi yo.Musamankhale ngati ma South African osamvetsa. Kuli chani ku Malawi choyambitsira zonophobia ndi capital yomwe yoyambira business mulibe. Chima chao sichanu iyayi.
Refugees are humans. They are not vermin. They can contribute to the country’s progress just like citizens of the country. Let us allow the Refugees live in freedom and contribute their talents to the country.
Jewish scientist such as Albert Einstein were refugees in the United States and contributed immensely to that country’s knowledge base. It was some of these Jewish scientist that helped developed the atom bomb for example.
I do not see any problem with refugees conducting business outside the camps. They are not stealing and participating in other criminal activities. In Malawi, we have Chinese businessmen winning contracts worth K 9.4 billion to construct swimming pools yet we are chasing away Africans who sell rice and beans in our townships.
The problem in this continent is selfishness! We are always talking about “our brothers and sisters” in neighbouring country or other tribes, but when it comes to economic disadvantages it is always the one from the other side to blame! When do we learn to be united…!
This issue isn’t as pertinent as one one sees it. If you go to Tsangano Turn Off and seek views from local business people there, you’ll understand that the government has a point. Burundians are forcing Landlords to raise their rentals making local businesses fail to pay son they (the Burundians) can occupy the shops. It’s diabolic. But anyway, may be we should wait for Patience Namadingo to become president so he should look at this issue from the same angle with the rest of Malawians.
Ndi anthu akuyenela ufulu monga aliyense munthu. Leave them, government should just get them documented so that they can do their businesses freely and paying tax. America yilikukula nawanthu wakwiza. Let em stay freely not in refugee camps even…thanks Mnela for your good thinking
You are busy chasing Burundians back to Dzaleka, nanga atumbuka akungoyendayenda mtawunimuwa bwanji?
Eti eti. Atumbukafe tili phee building mansions and collecting rent in this so called capital city while you’re busy with nyau and jando in your dusty village.
Leave us and Rwandans alone to make money! Once we’re done, we’ll voluntarily return to our g unpolluted home full of vegetation , rolling hills, honey and dew
Nkhondo inatha way back kwaoko and I guess we must acknowledge Burundians as Immigrants than Refugees. They should just do the right processes as demanded by the law.
Chilichonse kuti tidziti malamulo akt chani, ziyenda? We are allowing Asians and Chinese coming into Malawi through dubious means, and establish businesses. People full of crimes and we are busy relocating crimeless Africans. Just very hot issue of the 40indians 16 of which have tested covid 19 positive. 40 Indians coming to grab posts which could have been an opportunity to young Malawians who are jobless. As Malawi we are busy with pertinent issues leaving aside serious issues. My Nyasaland watani Kodi??? Koma amene adalodza Malawi mmmmm adalodza zenizeni
Mallick Mnela you are a journalist I expected you to understand,you compare those in RSA & refugees? Who is a refugee? Malawians you are too good!!
These Rwandese are not refugees there’s no war in Rwanda. These are just entrepreneurs so we welcome our fellow African hustlers. Indians are free to come here and you want to chase away our fellow African brothers and beautiful sisters? Black on black racism. Vilekeke!
The problem is that some refugees especially those from Burundi saw a business opportunity which Malawians did not see for a long time. They have prospered while we are busy with politics and other useless things. We fail in business because we want to get rich overnight and charge ridiculous prices. The xenophobic attacks we saw in South Africa happened because foreigners prosper there. The whole of central Johannesburg has businesses run by Ethiopians and others. Why can’t we run businesses efficiently and effectively? Yes they are refugees. Our mistake is to accept refugee from countries where there are no wars at the moment. Uladi Mussa in prison for aiding foreigners. This means the previous government is to blame for some if not most of the problems we have.
Many Africans simply have a problem with multiculturalism. These refugees should have a route to permanent residency in Malawi if they work hard and contribute to society. Malawians want to be accepted in other countries. Let’s show compassion as long as we don’t damage the economy. People are all the same. We cannot say Malawians should be allowed to migrate but Malawi is just for Malawians. That’s simply greed.
One Africa one world give people a break after leaving their homes and you still want to give them hard times while in the mother land, let Africans be free in Africa, at least let us be welcome in our own continent and be given respect as a people, we get to be bullied all over the world and instead of loving each other we do the same to ourselves as the world does to us, wake up Africa, wake up Malawi
The writer here has failed to prove his salt. The world over refugees are confined to a camp for easy monitoring or administration. That’s why there are such bodies like UNHCR which are there to look at the welfare of refugees. It’s not the Malawi government to do this work. Now UNHCR can not look at someone who is on his own in Mchinji who is refusing to recognized as a refugee. Surely govt need to arrest this person for illegal entry and be deported. No Malawian is in South Africa as a refugee. So Mr Dumbani Mzale’s nationality is questionable. He should be one of those journalists who came to Malawi after 1994
Nkhaniyi ndi ya Malawimulo pamodzi ndi mgwirizano ndi mabungwe ena. Boma ligwire ntchito yake; zikakanika tizionera limodzi. Koma ngati Boma lanena ndiye kuti laonapo kanthu.
Boma is not always right. To say that Boma lanena laonapo kanthu is childish.. You should know better considering the fact that Malawi experienced thirty years of dictatorship. As a citizen, we should question Government actions when they are not right.
Ya Malawians are not being fair indeed. Just regulate them so that government should be 8n a portion to know who is where. As long as no criminal activities are not done 6hen leave them to fo their businesses. 2e are as well in foreign countries and we always to be treated with fairness yet our brothers & sisters are ill-treating others?
It is very unfortunate that most seasoned writers are failing to understand why the minister of homeland security proposed this,
Malawians who are in south Africa are not there as refugees No,they went there looking for green pastures so dont compare a refuge ,awawa apite ku Dzaleka anyone who came in as a refugee he should be a refugee and stay where refugees are,Ma Naija bwa
The more than 3 Million Malawians in South Africa WITHOUT legal work permits searching for ‘Greener Pastures’ are classed as ECONOMIC REFUGEES. Whether economic, political or war refugees, the answer is the same. An illegal Malawian in South Africa is no different to an undocuments Burundian in Malawi.
Exactly 👏
That’s very true, but most countries llow refugees to get residency, not to stay permanently in a refugee camp. Surely ufulu is something Malawians understand?
Erick hope you are one of the refugees, these Brudians are not refugees but fortune seekers, a real refugee can’t travel more 2 countries to settle by himself , these people are here to do business , that’s why most of them they don’t keep money in the banks , after having cash they change for dollars and export to there mother country ,so please this issue is not political
As someone has stated above above. A refugee is not only one that flees wars. Malawians who have moved to South Africa and working illegally can be considered economic refugees. If they are not committing crimes and if they are caring for their families, it should not be anyone’s business. They should be allowed to live in freedom