Hopes of better economic fortunes shattered and dreams up in flames. That is how some Malawians repatriated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks on foreign immigrants have described their situation.
The first contingent of Malawians ejected from South Africa arrived in two busloads through Mwanza Border Post at dawn yesterday en route to Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, the improvised repatriation centre.
In an interview yesterday, 28-year-old Elita John, a mother from Ntaja in Machinga, said she arrived back home with little more than the clothes she was wearing and painful memories of the violence that forced her to flee South Africa.
Three years ago, John and her husband left Malawi with a plan to work hard, save money and return home after four years to start a business and build a better life for their family.
But that dream is in tatters following a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in some parts of South Africa, particularly Western Cape in Cape Town.
“It felt like I was dreaming or watching a movie. Our landlord suddenly told us to leave his house. He said foreigners had become targets of attacks and he could no longer accommodate us,” recalled John while holding her one-month-and-three-day-old baby.
She recalled that groups of youths descended on their residential street of Mossel Bay in Western Cape attacking foreigners and setting some of their homes ablaze. John said the scenes she witnessed still haunt her.
“I saw houses belonging to foreigners being burned to ashes. People were running in all directions. I had no choice but to run to save my life and that of my child,” said John.
She said the desperate escape turned into an ordeal of survival. For three days and nights, she hid in the bush within Mossel Bay with her infant, deprived of food and water.
John said she does not know the whereabouts of her husband as they have not communicated since their escape.
Osman Malithano, who spent three years in South Africa, said the decision to seek greener pastures has left him worse off financially and emotionally scarred.
Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi, who welcomed the returning Malawians, said government initially expected about 600 of them to seek voluntary repatriation from South Africa. However, the number has surged to more than 3 000.
He appealed to development partners, humanitarian organisations and well-wishers to support government’s efforts.
Saidi expressed optimism that they will benefit from the Reformed K5 billion Constituency Development Fund allocated to each constituency.
The Malawi Government footed the transport cost for the returnees. Upon arrival at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre yesterday, the returnees, who left South Africa on Saturday, were served with meal packs.
Those from Southern Region districts received K70 000 each while those from the Central Region were given K100 000 each and those from Northern Region received K150 000 each.
