Malawi VP says xenophobia attacks won’t affect ties with SA
Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima has ruled out any possibility of a diplomatic spat with South Africa following xenophobic attacks in the rainbow nation which have affected 420 Malawians, three of whom are seriously injured.
However, the Malawi Government has requested South Africa to ensure that proper security measures are provided to all people affected by the ongoing xenophobic attacks.
Updating the nation through a news conference in Blantyre, Vice President Chilima reiterated government’s shock and sadness at the attacks and said the South African government has since assured Lilongwe that measures have been put in place to protect lives of all targeted foreigners.
“We condemn the attacks in strongest terms. As neighbours, members of SADC and as friends, we must live in harmony. But let me say here that the attacks won’t affect diplomatic ties with South Africa because it’s not the government sending people to attack foreigners. Even President Jacob Zuma has condemned the attacks.”
“The South African government has assured that it is doing all it can to ensure that lives of targeted foreigners are protected by, among other things, beefing up police officers in areas where the situation is volatile,” stated Chilima.
According to Chilima, government has finalised arrangements to repatriate the affected citizens to Malawi, and the first buses are expected to arrive in Malawi on Sunday, April 19, 2015.
The Vice President then disclosed that Capitol Hill had already transferred K59.1 Million to the Malawi High Commission in South Africa for the repatriation process.
He said Malawians authorities in South Africa were finalizing the process of producing temporary travel documents for those that have lost their passports.
“The government has established two centres in Blantyre and Lilongwe in preparation for the arrival of the returnees. Each center can accommodate at least 500. The centre in Blantyre at Kwacha will carter for those arriving in Blantyre destined for the districts in the southern region.”
“The one in Lilongwe at Old Town will carter for those arriving in Lilongwe destined for districts in the central and northern regions. Screening, provision of psycho-social support and further repatriation to places of origin would be the key services provided at both reception centres,” added Chilima.
Chilima then assured the citizenry that aggressive efforts were underway to ensure the safe repatriation of all the displaced and injured Malawians.
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South Africans should understand that we are all Africans. Please google people like Clement Kadali.
mr vice president you are talking shit do you think this Rapist whom you call Jacob Zuma can talk some thing against his own nation?how you can say Zuma is not happy with this while he is the leader of Xenophobia?dont allow this Rapist{Zuma} fooling you a chief from his own tribe and his own son are them who order southafrican to start xenophobia in addition since the matter took place Zuma was quite he started talking when some salounding countrys started attaking his people and gave him bad warnings against his bussineses then you can see he is stoping… Read more »
A country poor like Malawi which has no much of manufacturing base and depends on imports of more 85% of its consumables must trade carefully. It will be like stabbing yourself expecting someone to fee the pain.
Just allow those illegal immigrants to come home and join the bandwagon of maize field workers here at home.
Mr. President want to have talks with the lion, the VP maintaining relations with enemies
Headless chickens indeed
Mulindima, you are showing you foolishness and being myopic, whether people went to South Africa illegally or not, they are still Malawian citizens and government is still responsible for their safety and the VP must have been a bit stronger. Yes, sending buses is a good gesture, but that does not stop government from taking action. Secondly, you are also not telling the truth this is the first time government is sending buses to ferry Malawians affected by xenophobia. In 2008 Malawi government also sent buses. That time Joyce Banda was minister of foreign affairs and she was personally involved… Read more »
VP, you should have been a bit stronger. Let RSA feel it. You can see that many African countries like Nigeria, Mozambique etc reacted strongly on this.
Inability to compete in a free world market & sense of entitlement are killing SAfricans.There is no any sensible excuse regarding foreign nationals in SA
To solve aproblem is not about revenge.Iknow everybody is angry about it,but Think about the more Malawians who are still in SA kodi mukati mubwenzera Amalawi onse ku SA athako?????
Just appreciate that at least Malawi Govt has cared this time around.
Munapitako nokha ndipo ambirinu ndi ma illigal immigrants kumeneko. Boma silinakutumizeni kumeneko. Don’t blame VP. Join other foreigners and fight back.you will find that South Africa will be in flames.
Chilima can not think like you wish; he has to act tactfully whilst condemning the attacks.
I don’t know why people are blaming Chilima. Perhaps you should ask yourself a question as to why you are found in RSA in the first place. Did the Malawi govt. send you there to warrant you blaming the VP?
This is the first time Malawi govt. has sent buses compared to the previous attacks where nothing happened and not even a word from the Malawi govt. You should appreciate!