Parliamentary committees on Defence and Security, Trade and Industry and International Relations have endorsed government’s decision to move refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka Refugee Camp, saying the action is within the law.
In a statement issued yesterday, co-signed by chairpersons of the three committees, Ralph Jooma (Defence), Paul Nkhoma (Trade and Industry) and Patrick Bandawe (International Relations) and also endorsed by Public Appointments Committee chairperson Joyce Chitsulo, the committees also argue that the enforcement is being done after several reminders to the refugees and asylum seekers to relocate.
Reads the statement in part: “We have noted that the action by government follows the behaviour of some refugees whose conduct in living and doing business outside designated refugee camps without any permit is inconsistent with the law that regulates refugees and asylum seekers in this country.
“We are also aware that government’s action is also based on a culmination of various notices and court processes during which the said refugees were requested to return to designated refugee camps. However, such requests and orders were not adhered to.”
The committees have since encouraged the Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma to ensure that the exercise is completed.
“As a member of the United Nations which has domesticated some UN Conventions on refugees, we note that the Malawi Government is acting within the law governing refugees in this country and as committee chairpersons, we endorse the action taken by the Ministry of Homeland Security in enforcing the law,” reads the statement further.
The committees have emphasized that what some of the refugees were doing by freely wondering around and in certain cases operating businesses without permits, was a recipe for chaos and rendered laws on refugees almost useless.
“As parliamentary committees, we would not want to see lawlessness prevail in the manner in which refugees behave in this country. We, therefore, wish to strongly encourage the Minister of Homeland and Security to ensure that the exercise continues within the law and observance of human rights by the law enforcers,” reads the statement.
However, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has condemned the parliamentary committees’ endorsement of the refugee relocation exercise.
In an interview yesterday, HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence said by forcibly relocating them, government is violating refugees rights.
Government cracked down on illegal immigrants in Lilongwe last Wednesday, with a plan to extend the exercise to other districts soon.
The United Nations, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) are against the decision.
According to UNHCR, about 8 000 refugees living in rural and urban locations are expected to return to the camp, which presently accommodates 56 425 refugees. It was originally established to accommodate up to 12 000 refugees.
