Outrage against Malawians of Asian origins will fan xenophobia, say Mtambo and Malopa
Minister of Civic Education and National Unity Timothy Mtambo and local investor Bright Malopa have both cautioned against the outrage between citizens calling themselves indigenous Malawians and those of Asian descent, saying it only fan xenophobia and slide the country to economic woes.
Mtambo called for “honest conversation’’ over growing backlash both within and outside Parliament against the minority Malawians of Asian origin said to have corruptly accumulated land, businesses, government contracts and power.
“If we don’t get to the foundation of this issue, we may think we are addressing the problem when we are just tackling the symptoms, so we need to understand why we are in this situation. Who is responsible for this and how can we address the problem.
“While you are pointing a finger at somebody, you must be aware that the other fingers are pointing at you,” said Mtambo in published interview with Weekend Nation newspaper.
Mtambo said politicians should desist from corrupt practices fuelling inequalities that antagonise different sections of the citizenry.
He urged against racism and xenophobic generalisations.
“We cannot paint all people with one brush. Some of them may be rotten, but many others are good. The issue at hand is about inequality, so we have to find better ways of addressing it to avoid creating disunity and chaos in this country,’’ he said.
“The philosophy of this government is that people should be able to live in peace, harmony and equality.”
In another interview carried by the newspaper, Malopa, a former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Director General observed that not all Asians of Malawian origin participate in government contracts.
He said: ‘“We must begin to appreciate the benefits that come with cultural diversity by looking at the good side of each other. There will always be bad people in society. Greed has no race, tribe, religion or color but the ills born out of society be in black, white or Asian will be dealt by the law. We, therefore, ….have a moral duty to speak against any form of Xenophobia or racism.”
Malopa cautioned against pushing one society into a corner to avoid harvesting monstrous behaviour.
“Today, it’s the Asians, tomorrow it will be Tumbukas, then Lhomwes or Chewas. This will only end in destroying the moral fabric that holds this country together. The ills of our society should not be attached to races or tribes. It must be dealt by law,’’ he said.
Malopa commended the Tonse Alliance led government for the establishment of the ministry of Unity and Civic education, which he said will help in bridging up misunderstanding and the societal differences currently facing the country.
He advised: “We must invest in civic education in our bid to build a more tolerant and just society.”
Malopa said the current anti-Amwenye sentiments will scare off Foreign Direct Investment that Malawi badly needs.
“The world out there cares less about the majority. It pays more attention to how the majority treats the minorities and therein lies the danger,’’ he pointed out.
A social commentator Rafiq Hajat has since urged the government to launch forensic inquiries into suspected crimes committed by all Malawians, even those of Indian origins, so justice can take its course because no one is above the law.
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There is no need to waste time researching as if one would want to get a degree in history of Malawians of Asian origin.
Know that almost all amwenyes have British passports and therefore all these people are foreigners.
All issues negatively impacting Malawians
about them must be corrected wholesome at once and now not later. There is need to take a bold step now to correct these ills. Those of them that wish to migrate let them do so.
Most are holding British, Malawi, South African and Indian or Pakistan
Who is Malopa, Makiyolobasi, to lecture us on Asians? We fully know and understand that it’s not all Asians that are bad, crooked. There several good citizens. It’s just that the likes of Sameer Karim, Aboo and some such vermins who spoil the broth. Take Aboo for example. He has the cheek to tell us that he bought land at Misesa for Chambo Fish Farming. Go there now and see how derlicit the place looks; proving that the aim was not Chambo but mere ownership of the land.
Malopa has himself benefitted from corruption… He should eff off… Opportunist like some of those Asians… Why is it that these Asians don’t take part civic duties such as voting but are the first to jump in for a share in the national cake… Yes our own unscrupulous officials are to partly blame but atiwonjeza amwenyewa
In real life where communities are made up of mixed races or nationalities, expect racism and xenophobia. Nonetheless, these acts will never keep away investors as claimed by Malopa. How many ivestors have left South Africa or USA where xenophobia and racism occurs. Malopa is a beneficiary of corruption and hence the defence of amwenye.
When it comes to investors you have missed the Mark. Firstly We as Malawi are not South Africa or USA Interms of not only size of country but economy we are a century behind. Secondly the tension of xenophobia in South Africa is quote mainly “black on black”. Thirdly USA is too vast of a country for every racial attack that’s petty on the street to become National or international news. Only time we here attacks are when they’re mass shootings in schools and places like those. Fourthly Malawi is not attractive to investors for mega projects because of infrastructure,… Read more »
The issue is that there are no demarcation to show what business is accepted for a foreigner to do. Imagine there are just too many Nigerians owning shops mainly in Lilongwe. Can a Malawian be afforded such a luxury in Lagos? Much as they too are Africans but they don’t belong to Malawi nor are they within the SADEC Region. All this boils down to lack of driving factors by all governments that have been there. Actually, as far as money is concerned, these foreigners will get what they want because with them giving a poor Malawian politician $1 million… Read more »
The sentiment from the minister is I’ll placed. There are deep rooted issues which MUST be addressed, and must not be brushed under the table.
Issues of corruption, yet I cannot name one in prison. You cannot cheat me that there is not even one that is corrupt. Or is our Malawian justice very selective?
The way they try and portray a comparative superiority, and therefore expect to be treated exceptionally.
The fact that we also go out of our way to treat them better.
List goes on.
Lekani kaye amalawi kukonda kulandila ziphuphu,ndipo amwenyewa adzasowa owapatsa.Taonani,uyu wa maindset
Anadya zamseli 2009 kwa Bingu ndipo anadutsa
2014,anapitiliza zomwezomwezo,mpaka Peter wachabe chabe kukhala pampando.Amalawi ndi wokonda ziphuphu koopsa.wamindset waminset wamindset ndi munthu wachaaabe.
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This is the time for Amwenye to be told the truth that they are not Malawians they r from Asia, all asians are cruel people, when u look at Chines, they are monsters they r not human beings. So Malawians lets take back our country, from these pigs called Amwenye. Bakili Muluzi sold our country to his fellows, don’t be fooled by UNHCR, UN , Human Rights Watch, they r all useless, lets put these criminal lndians where they belong.
extremely shameful of you to refer to people as not being human beings. It only reflects that your life is a sad one and you are a bitter person.
A Mwenye ena anyanya katangale, even to the extent of corrupting the President as was the case with Sameer Karim. Unfortunately, one rotten fish tends to spoil the lot in a basket.
I appeal to the civilized a Mwenye (and there are many of them) to reign in the corrupt ones such as Aboo.
Landani malo onse omwe samayenera kugulitsidwa kwa anthu obwera, malowo boma lipangepo chitukuko Basi, otherwise nkhani iyi sidzatha bwino
they should go back to their India and leave Malawi alone