Refugees commit human and financial resources to develop Malawi if integrated

Refugees and asylum seekers who are running successful businesses have pleaded with the Malawi Government to consider integrating them, assuring that they are prepared to use their human and financial capital to help in transforming the socioeconomic strata of the country.

One of the concerned refugees, Bantubino Leopord, a 59-year-old Burundian refugee currently residing and running his businesses in Mchinji, expressed fear that the resultant congestion at Dzaleka Refugee Camp could expose them to coronavirus disease (Covid-1) pandemic and other waterborne disease due to lack of safe and clean drinking water at the facility.

We bring a lot of skills and business opportunities to Malawi government

On Monday morning, Leopord telephoned Nyasa Times to share the trauma his family has suffered following the publication of the order from the Ministry of Homeland Security to relocate them to their designated camp.

“I have stayed in Malawi for the past 27 years. And I have always regarded this country as my home. But since the order was issued to relocate us, our host communities are hurling all sorts of insults on us; singing ‘Obwera Paulendo’,” he said.

However, Leopord emphasized that he would not want to challenge the decision by the government to relocate them, but simply to express fear is that the prospects of the refugees and asylum seekers living a decent life at the camp is remote.

He said if they can be integrated, the enterprising refugees and asylum seekers will pool together their human and financial resources towards the social and economic development of the country.

“Besides the businesses we are running, we are people of diverse skills and knowledge, which we can use to build and develop this nation together. Hence, we are appealing to the authorities in the Malawi Government to integrate us in communities we are already living instead of constricting us to a camp that was designed to carry not more than 10, 000 immigrants,” he said.

Another refugee, John Byamchana, said refugees and asylum seekers have always been grateful to the Government of Malawi for providing them the opportunity to flourish in their personal endeavours and allow refugee children study in public schools from primary to the university albeit against Article 22 of the Refugee Legislation.

Byamchana further observed that the Government of Malawi has allowed qualified refugees to work in some domains such as health and education to the point that some became leaders in some institutions.

“By this, the article 17 which forbids refugees to work in Malawi, as well as Act 24 linked to it stipulating that the same refugees cannot save for social security after retirement, lost power. The Malawi Government made it easier to refugees to do business by issuing certificates of business registration; Business premises license as well as MRA [Malawi Revenue Authority] machines for tax paying calculations. With this, there was a clear modification of Act 19 forbidding refugees to do business and Act 13 denying them the right to own important possessions,” he narrated.

He also commended the government for upholding the refugees’ right to form and run churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contrary to the law.

“We could not be in NGO and cooperatives before. But the government issued citizenship to some of us contrary to what existed before with Act 34 of the same refugee regulation law,” said Byamchana.

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bentby
2 years ago

our Govt please don’t fall for this treachery, two-timing, sooth stories. these people are clever. if they respect our govt why they took our govt to court? why did they escape from camp without proper papers? where on earth did you see refugee taking his hosting country to court? now they know kuti injunction might soon be vacated, they start bringing soothing stories. please go back to the camp, you will start the process of applying for business permit from there.

Joseph Kanyamuka
Joseph Kanyamuka
2 years ago

I support his suggestion!

Bless
Bless
2 years ago

If what these refugees are saying is really true, then Malawi is a government of so many challenges. It has been breaking it’s own laws. No wonder today the refugees are challenging the host and the government has been bowing down to them.

Jesta
Jesta
2 years ago

Guys 27 years is a long time. During 1 party system. Surely you can’t just chase them.

Vitie
2 years ago

They can just be assisted according to the law…some have been here for so long and are unable to go just like our brothers & sisters who are in Zambia,RSA or Tanzania..they can just be vetted.

Jah
Jah
2 years ago
Reply to  Vitie

Rational thinking

JEM
JEM
2 years ago

Let them first go to kudzaleka or their country and reapply as an investor into Malawi.

Malwians will cooperatively work with them and enjoy said transformation emanating from both their human and financial capital.

Innocent Magambi
Innocent Magambi
2 years ago
Reply to  JEM

They did not come here as investors, they came here as refugees. However, their resilience and education they got while refugees in Malawi has opened up many opportunities. Those who came here at the age of 15 when Dzaleka was opened are now 42 years old. and the first Dzaleka born refugees are now 27 years, do you think your suggestion applies to them?

Mulopwana
2 years ago

Anthuwa ndiwolimbikila. Lest we frasstrate enterpreuriship. Basi anabwela aloleni adzigwila ntchito. Koma ena asabwelenso. Let them settle in the boundaries of their countries basi

Doba
Doba
2 years ago
Reply to  Mulopwana

Bvuto ndilakuti athuwa ambiri sasunga ndrama ku Bank , amasitha ndrama ndikutumidzirani kwao mosaaata malamuro , Komaso akubwerabe mwaunyinji , Kumatumidza zokolora mosasata malamulo , most of them are Crooks ,

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