Government and its partners have spent a combined K12 billion to bring home 45 000 Malawians from South Africa. But some are already going back.
Shukuran Mussah was among the first returnees repatriated on government buses in May after xenophobic attacks.
He went home to Maluma Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Nsanama in Machinga. Weeks later, he was back in Johannesburg.
“I realised that life was difficult back home and I could not survive. I am back here and will continue working,” he said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. He still lives in fear.
Mussah’s story is repeating itself. Despite the cost and danger, poverty is pushing people back across the border.
Figures from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) show that 676 buses were used to repatriate at least 45 000 people between May and July this year.
The exercise followed attacks targeting African immigrants in South Africa.
Dodma Commissioner Wilson Moleni said in an interview on Friday that government has spent K9 billion so far. Development partners have added another K3 billion in cash and material support.
Each returnee is receiving between K70 000 and K150 000 to cover transport from Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza District to their homes.
For others, leaving was never really an option.
Chrispin Pindani, from Chiwalo Village, T/A Liwonde in Machinga, arrived in Johannesburg at the end of June. It was his first trip to South Africa. A friend persuaded him to go.
“South Africa is a dangerous place to live, but I come from a poor family that cannot provide for me. I had no choice but to come here,” he said in a telephone interview last week.
Mwanza Border Immigration spokesperson Sophie Mwenda confirmed that people continue leaving through the border post.
She said most are businesspeople, but others are travelling for different reasons. The department is still compiling figures on how many have gone back.
Some returnees who declined to be named also confirmed they had re-entered South Africa in search of better opportunities.
Parliament’s International Relations Committee is now recommending a temporary ban on travel to South Africa until the situation normalises.
Committee vice-chairperson Frank Mwenifumbo presented the report on Wednesday following engagements with stakeholders on the repatriation exercise.
“The committee recommends the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation [to] consult relevant stakeholders to explore the possibility of effecting the ban, except in special circumstances, as a measure to safeguard national resources and protect citizens,” he said.
Mwenifumbo argued that restricting travel temporarily would reduce repeated repatriation costs, ensure resources are directed to genuine cases of need and encourage lawful migration.
He also called on the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Homeland Security to strengthen border security to curb illegal migration.
The measure, he said, would also mitigate exposure to xenophobic violence while giving government time to strengthen bilateral negotiations, improve labour export frameworks and establish safer alternatives for Malawians seeking work abroad.
Meanwhile, Moleni thanked the governments of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique for facilitating safe transit.
He also thanked South Africa-based organisations, including Gift of the Givers, Gift of the Needy, AL Imdaad Foundation, World Memon Organisation and others for supporting displaced Malawians.
