By Watipaso Mzungu JNR:
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, George Chaponda, has accused Member of Parliament Vitumbiko Mumba for what he has described as “deliberate distortion and misquotation” of the remarks he made in an exclusive interview with eNCA Television of South Africa.
Chaponda is facing a storm of online criticism after comments he made that the Ngoni people of Mzimba had migrated to Malawi from South Africa without following due process.
The minister further said that the Ngonis in Mzimba lack documentation to justify their presence in Malawi.
Following the remarks, Mumba said he was not surprised by the statement made by Chaponda against the people of Mzimba District.
“What we must understand as Malawians is that the nation’s progress depends on our shared humanity and merit rather than on ethnic or regional origins. We must uphold the principle of equal rights, whereby leaders serve all citizens without bias and public policy is guided by the common good.
“Given the reckless statement made from a position of great ignorance (ignorance because people came into Malawi as tribes, not as job seekers) by Chaponda, I doubt that he can exercise his constitutional duties impartially. As such, the best course of action would be for him to resign, or for the appointing authority to dismiss him.
“Failure to do so strengthens the belief that Chaponda’s statement reflects the true values held by those who support it. I condemn any rhetoric that divides us along ethnic, religious, or regional lines,” said Mumba, who also comes from Mzimba district
However, Chaponda said a review of the full eNCA transcript shows significant omissions and reframing that change the context of his responses on Malawians in South Africa, immigration violations, and cross-border ties.
In the interview, Chaponda was pressed repeatedly on why Malawians endure hostility in South Africa rather than return home, and on allegations of crime including human trafficking, illegal alcohol production, and illegal mining.
When asked about accusations that Malawians break immigration laws, Chaponda’s full response was:
“Because we know that every country cannot afford to say we cannot have people who can work. There are always movements of irregular people. There are some people who have been in this country for ages. In Malawi, we have others who have been there, they don’t have any papers. If we said today, ‘Oh, South Africa, come from. We have Ngonis and Zulus in Mzimba whose roots trace to South Africa,”
Earlier in the interview he also framed the issue as continental and political, saying: “We might say, Africans in general, but the issue, as I said, which is at stake, political to say now, as said, How do we deal with this matter? And I’m glad we are coming by their district understanding.”
He said in the transcript, he did not endorse law-breaking, defend criminality, or suggest Malawians should ignore South African immigration laws. His remarks touched on historical migration, the reality of irregular movement in all countries, and the need for leadership to address the matter.
