By Tiyanjane Nandie Mambucha:
The Ministry of Homeland security has assured Malawians that ‘’Operation mchotsa ma Burundi’’ exercise which started with Lilongwe will continue with other districts and has requested people to remain calm as Government security agencies continue with the exercise.
The Ministry says it is aware that some Malawians are harboring illegal immigrants and shielding them from law enforcers, saying the practice is an interference with the law, reiterating that any individual found meddling with the process will be brought to book.
The sentiments are contained in a statement where government is giving an update on the relocation exercise of refugees and asylum seekers dated 19th May, 2023 and signed by Oliver Kumbambe, Secretary for Homeland and Security.
According to the Statement, on Tuesday, the Malawi Police and Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services wound up 408 people in order to screen their documentation.
The Ministry says of the 408 that were temporarily kept at Maula Prison in Lilongwe, 152 who had valid refugee and asylum seekers documentation have been returned to Dzaleka Camp and seven individuals that had valid permits have also been released.
It has thanked the general public for keeping calm and for the support rendered during the enforcement of relocation of refugees and asylum seekers, encouraging all refugees and asylum seekers still living out of Dzaleka Refugee Camp to return to camp voluntarily.
’’Government had earlier given refugees and asylum seekers 15th April, 2023 as a deadline for them to voluntarily relocate to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa, but some had chosen not to comply with the order,’’ reads the statement in part.
Minister responsible Dr. Ken Zikhale Ng’oma has assured United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) that the Government of Malawi will not retreat or surrender in its decision made to relocate all refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
He expressed fears that bowing down to the UNHCR demands of allowing refugees and asylum seekers to go back to their communities, some other ill-minded people would take the law into their hands.
Meanwhile, a young concerned Refugee, Divine Inakoze has written an open letter to President Lazarus Chakwera to reverse the decision to force refugees back into Dzaleka Camp claiming that many of them came to Malawi when they were young and have known no other country than Malawi.
Inakoze says Malawi raised them by giving them shelter and refugee status, pleading with President Chakwera to remember that they are human beings with families, hopes and dreams that they have found a welcoming home in Malawi.
’’I urge you to reconsider this decision and to remember that refugees are not a burden, but rather an asset to society, being a refugee is not a choice anyone chooses to make and no one chooses to be a refugee,’’ reads her writing on the wall.
