In the thick of the post-election violence in protest over Mozambique’s October 9 2024 vote, hundreds of Mozambicans, including women and children, crossed into Malawi and other neighbouring countries to seek refuge.
But what was anticipated to be a temporary relief appears to be a permanent move, especially among a majority of those in Malawi who have vowed not to return to their country even at gunpoint despite the return of peace.
During a visit to Nyamithuthu Refugee Settlement Camp in Nsanje District on Saturday, Andrasone Moses Basiyalo, who was Frelimo Sabe Constituency secretary in Murumbala District, said in an interview that the thought of going back to her country sends a chill down her spine.
With tears flowing on her cheeks at the time of the interview, she said she regretted participating in active politics as this cost the lives of her two sons.
Said Basiyalo: “It’s clear that they wanted to kill me for being the constituency secretary, but I managed to escape and hide when they invaded my house. Unfortunately, they captured my only two sons who were shouting for help, but nobody, including myself, came out for help.
“Next I saw with my naked eyes my two sons being slaughtered as chickens. So, I better die here of hunger here than going back to Mozambique!”
Traditional Authority Tengani of Murumbala District in Mozambique, who is among the asylum seekers at the camp, said the post-election violence is silently accelerating despite media reports that the situation has calmed down.
She said: “Returning home is like digging your own grave, particularly for us traditional leaders who were allegedly linked to Frelimo.
“So, they [violence perpetrators] have vowed to kill me. So, I feel safer here [at the camp], despite the poor living conditions such as poor hygiene, shortage of food, among others.”
Two elderly women, Petina John and Sofia Bingala, both from Murumbala who escaped the 1977-1992 Mozambican Civil War, echoed Tengani’s sentiments that Mozambique, particularly their district, is not a safe place for them to live.
John, in her late 80s and arrived in the country on Christmas Day last year through Shire River, said the recent post-election violence was more dangerous than the civil war.
She said: “I survived that [1977-1992] civil war, but this one is more dangerous because they just come silently into your house and slaughter you unlike during the war when gunfire alerted us and we started running away.
“As I am speaking now, I left my little grandchildren behind and I don’t even know if they are still alive.”
Reacting to the sentiments, Ministry of Homeland Security Principal Secretary Steve Kayuni said the Malawi Government has engaged Mozambique on how best to handle the situation.
He said the plight of Mozambican refugees needs collective efforts by the two governments and other stakeholders, including international agencies.
Said Kayuni: “The refugees situation is a very sensitive terrain requiring striking a balance, including the legal obligation which Malawi has. The Nyamithuthu Temporary Refugees Settlement Camp is a continuous consultative process.”
In his welcoming remarks when Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma’s visited Nyamithuthu Temporary Refugees Settlement Camp on Friday, Nsanje district commissioner (DC) Dominic Mwandira said the asylum seekers face a number of challenges, including shortage of food, tents and other relief items.
He said the population at the camp was likely to increase because the Department of Refugees was still conducting refugees registration.
Commenting on the matter, Inua Advocacy communications officer Brenda Buliyani said asylum seekers cannot be forced to return to their original homes as per international laws.
She said: “We have seen that there are already some asylum seekers who have started returning home to start rebuilding their lives. That is a good thing. So, let them return when they are ready to return just as the others have done.”
By Friday, Nyamithuthu had 3 656 households registered as refugees, representing about 7 536 people.
Since October 21 2024, Mozambique experienced social unrest, protests, demonstrations and stoppages called by opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane who protested the results that declared Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner. Chapo has since been sworn in and extended an olive branch to Mondlane.
At least 327 people have died, and around 750 people have been shot during the protests in Mozambique, according to online publication www.clubofmozambique.com.
