Government has embarked on the voluntary repatriation of 150 displaced Malawians who are living in temporary camps in Western Cape Province in South Africa.
In a statement released yesterday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that the first two buses carrying returnees left Western Cape on Saturday as part of a coordinated operation aimed at safely returning affected citizens home.
According to the ministry, the group forms part of a larger population of foreign nationals who sought refuge in temporary camps in Mossel Bay following their displacement.
Their evacuation is being coordinated through a multidisciplinary Malawian task force deployed to South Africa under the Malawi High Commission.
The returnees are travelling by road through Zimbabwe and Mozambique and are expected to enter Malawi today via Mwanza Border Post.
Upon arrival, they will be processed at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre before being dispatched to their respective home districts.
The ministry said the exercise reflects government’s continued commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Malawian citizens abroad, particularly those affected by crises.
“The ministry reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all affected Malawians and remains ready to provide the necessary transit and consular support in coordination with relevant government ministries, agencies and departments,” reads part of the statement.
The repatriation comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by Malawi’s foreign missions to help citizens affected by displacement and other challenges in foreign countries. Authorities have not yet indicated whether additional groups will be repatriated under the current operation.
Meanwhile, private practice lawyer Benedicto Kondowe welcomed government’s intervention, but urged caution against treating State-funded repatriation as a permanent safety net for citizens who migrate despite official travel advisories.
“While the government deserves credit for repatriating Malawians caught up in xenophobic violence, this assistance should not be interpreted as an open-ended safety net for those who knowingly ignore official travel advisories and continue migrating into high-risk environments,” he said.
Last month, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Nkhalamba confirmed that the Malawi High Commission is getting distress calls from Malawians wanting to be repatriated back home.
