Activists condemn Malawi’s refugees’ report

The Malawi delegation to the 77th Ordinary Session of African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania has come under fire for allegedly misrepresenting facts on refugees and asylum-seekers’ situation in the country.

Refugee rights advocate, Inua Advocacy, has disputed Malawi’s report, arguing that the refugees’ situation demands urgent attention and the alleged misrepresentation undermines efforts of organisations and advocates working to protect rights and dignity of refugees.

Inua Advocacy, in its statement said Malawi’s report, which was presented to the chairperson, commissioners and the delegates at the event does not reflect realities on the ground.

Presenting the statement on the State of Human Rights Situation in Malawi, Ministry of Justice Principal State Advocate Duncan Zikagwa said on Wednesday that government has always made appropriate provision for a safe stay of all refugees and asylum-seekers.

According to Inua Advocacy’s statement, Zikagwa said this guiding principle was also religiously observed during the recent relocation of refugees and asylum-seekers from undesignated places to Dzaleka Camp in Dowa.

But in the statement signed by chief executive officer Innocent Magambi, Inua Advocacy expressed deep concern with the misrepresentation, which it said whitewashed the dire situation faced by refugees and asylum-seekers in the country.

“Contrary to the claims, the refugee relocation has been marred by systematic violations, including the rape of women, loss of property, unlawful detention of children and women, forced and unlawful deportations, extortions and xenophobic narratives by authorities,” reads the statement.

The advocacy also claimed that the Malawi delegation failed to address overcrowding of Dzaleka Refugee Camp, which currently accommodates 52 272 refugees, far beyond its capacity of 12 000 when it was established in 1994.

 “Inua Advocacy calls on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and all people of goodwill to recognise the severity of the situation, to conduct an independent investigation and to hold those responsible for human rights violations against refugees and asylum-seekers in Malawi accountable,” further reads the statement.

Meanwhile, Centre for Development and Economic Initiatives executive director Sylvester Namiwa has said the development vindicates what his organisation has been saying on the refugees’ situation in the country.

“In fact, we implored government to halt the recampment exercise as it lacked merit. Over and above everything, government had no valid reason for the same. True to our fears, the exercise was hijacked by criminal elements and ended up with gross violations of human rights,” said Namiwa yesterday.