Malawi VP quells tension in Mzuzu
Malawi Vice-President Khumbo Kachali on Tuesday urged Malawians not to avenge reported xenophobic attacks on their compatriots in Tanzania, saying dialogue is key to resolving such issues.
Kachali said this in Malawi’s northern city of Mzuzu where he cheered the attacks’ victims who are stranded in the northern city. They are being temporarily hosted by the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP).
The Vice-President also delivered a message of goodwill and hope from President Joyce Banda and government to the victims.
He said in the current situation, there is need to exercise order in the country as violence will not resolve the dispute.
Said Kachali: “We don’t have to revenge the attacks. Vengeance is not good because you don’t know what will happen next. We need to promote peace.”
He said Malawi and Tanzania enjoy a good relationship and any misunderstanding is resolved through talks
Said Kachali: “We know it is painful that our relatives are being attacked, but we need to handle the matter properly. We have to leave the issue in the hands of government. No one should take the law into their hands to avenge.
“If you try to avenge, you will be weakening what we call the bargaining tool for government.”
The VP pledged to help the victims with transport to their respective homes. He said others who are stranded in Tanzania will also be assisted.
A representative of the victims, Amex Mazunda of Kamtambo Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Timbiri in Nkhata Bay said foreign nationals in Tanzania were being persecuted on economic grounds in Tanzania.
He claimed that Tanzanians feel the foreigners were depriving them of jobs and houses.
Livingstonia CCAP Synod general secretary the Reverend Levi Nyondo said the victims had no food and it took some residents of Mzuzu to feed them, especially the children. He said some spent three days without eating.
On Monday, some Mzuzu residents descended on a flea market, popularly known as Taifa Market, to attack Tanzanian nationals plying their trade there. However, armed police swiftly moved in to quell the situation.
However, it transpired yesterday that Tanzanian nationals no longer trade there. In the end, it was about 650 Malawian households that were left destitute .
Previously, the market used to be the hub of Tanzanian traders but they left after the market was gutted down by fire a couple of years ago and some ventured into bigger businesses giving room to Malawians to control the market.
Taifa Market vice-chairperson Paul Mwakisambwe said Malawians own the shops and it is unfortunate that they were targeted.
He said the development has left fellow Malawians in deep shock as they almost lost their businesses.
The shop owners alleged the mob wanted to take advantage of the situation in Tanzania to steal, an assertion Mzuzu Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola agreed with.
