The number of Malawians affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa has risen from 1 050 to 3 200 with many injured, Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa said yesterday.
Briefing journalists in Lilongwe, Nankhumwa, who is also the official government spokesperson, said two Malawians have been confirmed dead in the violence.
He said they are from Mangochi. He said one has already been buried in South Africa and the body of the other person is still in a South African mortuary.
According to Nankhumwa, government will require at least K195 million to ferry the affected Malawians to their homes across the country.
Six buses carrying the first group of the repatriated Malawians arrived at Mwanza Border Post around 5pmyesterday while five more buses are scheduled to leave South Africa today.
Said Nankhumwa: “We estimate that we need at least 50 buses to repatriate our brothers [and sisters] from South Africa while government shall require about K195 million. Meanwhile, we have sent 10 immigration officers to South Africa who are assisting in the Malawian Consulate during this time.”
Thousands of foreign nationals have been displaced and rendered destitute in the attacks that started two weeks ago, allegedly sparked by Zulu king Goodwill Zwelethini who is quoted as having said that foreigners were taking up South Africans’ jobs.
